Bridgestone/Firestone Implements Enterprise-wide Network
to Capture Store Data

Bridgestone/Firestone (BFS) commercial operations specialize in the sale of large to enormous commercial truck tires and is committed to ‘serviceability’. The Operations Director of Systems Administration explained: “Most of the stores we deal with handle tire repair for large machines such as earth movers and mining equipment. This requires all our 54 stores to operate a local work order and invoice billing system”.

Administrating these work orders and invoices locally is an enterprise-wide network between the stores. Each store has an SCO Unix server running back office applications for 4 to 12 users and 3 to 8 printers. Installed in each server is a Perle SX Serial Card. User terminals, printers and a modem are then connected to the server via 8 port RS-232 connector boxes situated throughout the store. Data is transmitted through the connector boxes and SX card to the back office applications dealing with data for orders, dispatching, inventory control and accounts receivable.

Data collected at each of the 54 stores during the day is transferred via telephone lines to the regional office in Austin. Here it is received by UUCP polling over six lines on the Telebit modems connected to a Perle remote terminal adapter and RIO host card. The data provides GL and A/P accounting, inventory and sales/cost analysis.

Perle SX and RIO provide the affordability and modularity needed, and the expandability and service that allow store personnel to solve technical problems via the phone. “Perle has demonstrated our concept of serviceability by addressing all our technical issues quickly and thoroughly”.