Announcing Synthesis Deployment to the SUN’s User Community

As part of an overall effort to increase efficiency and improve marine scheduling for the Delaware Valley refining complex, Sunoco Inc. (SUN) will be implementing Synthesis for its vessel and dock management system.

A Streamlined Approach - as described in a newsletter from SUN.

Synthesis will enhance efficiency by allowing SUN to consolidate numerous operations under a single application. Once the system is up and running, SUN will be able to decommission numerous applications that are currently using for marine invoicing, demurrage tracking, financial recap, marine reports, vessel maintenance, barge and dock scheduling, and other functions.

Another important benefit SUN will recognize with Synthesis is reducing total demurrage costs by collecting more timely and complete information regarding barge and vessel movements. (Demurrage refers to the costs associated with detaining a ship during loading or unloading beyond the scheduled time of departure.) In addition, better management of dock and vessel assets can reduce disruptions of operations, such as lack of feed and lack of storage. While these costs will not be entirely eliminated, SUN expects to make significant progress once Synthesis is implemented.

Additional anticipated savings will be result of the business process redesign that is part of the project. The objectives for any business process improvement initiative are to make a process more effective, efficient, and adaptable. This will not only save SUN money, but over time, will result in a more smoothly running process which will allow the teams to be more focused on continued improvements.