Schrader Pacific
SCHRADER Pacific is a specialist in automotive control and measurement equipment and is behind many innovations such as the TPMS tire pressure monitoring system. The global reputation of this 2,200-employee company is based on its reliability, expertise, product performance and collaboration with its customers. Schrader’s business systems are built on IBM i and recently, its French subsidiary had to bring on new developers and ensure efficient, secure knowledge transfer.
Challenge
Schrader needed to preserve the knowledge in its legacy IBM i applications for commercial management, supply chain and production management, which were written in RPG. They needed to do so while respecting Sarbannes-Oxley (SOX) regulations. Ultimately, Schrader needed a method of producing application documentation that was complete enough to give new developers the ability to understand and begin maintaining the system, while also providing a basis for complying with audits and security standards.
Solution: X-Analysis
X-Analysis was implemented by Schrader to automatically generate documentation for legacy applications and perform impact analysis. Some of the main X-Analysis functions used by Schrader:
- Subsystem charts and layered structure charts
- Variable tracing: hierarchical exploration through multiple layers of variables and programs/files/screens
- Source code browser, graphical structure diagrams and interactive data flow diagrams
- Documentation wizard for static documentation in MS Word format
- Entity-relationship diagrams
- Impact analysis: objects and procedures “where used” — through all iterations of objects/variables.
Schrader worked closely with Itheis, a leading IBM i modernization solution provider, to acquire X-Analysis licenses. As a long-time member of the Fresche Power Partner Program, Itheis provides expertise and solutions to the IBM i community with modernization and platform evolution as their main focus.
Results
X-Analysis helped Schrader share business application knowledge between established and new developers and secure development and maintenance operations during changes in teams. X-Analysis did all of the following for Schrader:
- Provided a shared view of applications along with clear maintenance documentation
- Boosted productivity gains in maintenance teams, development and support
- Reduced risk and helped meet deadlines
- Ensured rapid onboarding of new developers
