Isobord's Geographic Information System Solution

Abstract

This chapter presents a case study of Isobord1, a Canadian manufacturer of high quality particleboard that uses straw instead of wood as the main raw material input. Isobord is facing critical operational problems that threaten its future. Gary Schmeichel, a biotechnology consultant hired by Isobord, must recommend how much straw collection equipment to purchase and what kind of information technology to acquire to help manage equipment dispatch operations. Schmeichel is exploring how geographic information systems (GIS) and relational database management systems (RDBMS) might help manage operations, but budget and time constraints and organizational inexperience seriously threaten these efforts. Decisions must be made immediately if there is to be any hope of implementing a system to manage the first year’s straw harvest. Readers are challenged to put themselves in Schmeichel’s shoes and prepare recommendations for Isobord.