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Chief Mr. Kazuhiro IjimaGlobal Information System Headquarters Engineering Systems Department

As part of the reforms to our design process our company installed an IT system. The result was an unacceptably large amount of software and hardware accumulating in the development area, as well as a high number of varied licenses. The IT system yielded additional software rental charges and higher operating costs because of the increased maintenance expenditures. This created doubts that the system was being used effectively. Though our planned target utilization rate was 80%, the problem was that too much work was required to manage and monitor the usage rates.

Mr. Tanaka:Through the automated count process, the log was being automatically scripted. The CAD and CAE applications streamlined the job by uniting the script that automated the total processing

of the log. Moreover, it took two to three days to analyze each module in detail. Since application usage rates were based on the amount of time used for each license and the amount of maintenance renewal, a large amount both time and manpower was needed to perform the monitoring process.

Some of the initial problems included unclear usage rates that led to a lack of consensus as to whether or not the investment was a wise one. The basic problem, however, was the large number of licenses, as well as the many different types of licenses that existed. In the summer of 2005, Nissan Motor decided they needed a tool to eliminate these problems.

Reason for selection“Open iT was selected because it possessed the functional capability and reliability needed, and because of strong customer support provided by Daikin Industry.”

Mr. Ijima: We considered our needs and the goals we needed to achieve using a management tool. Since only Open iT satisfied our needs, we

Nissan Motor Company Limited

Nissan BackgroundNissan Motor Corporation Limited uses a large variety of software applications including, but not limited to, CAD, CAE and others that are used for production simulation and design. System operating information is metered and managed by Open iT and used to make informed investment decisions, such as license those dealing with enhancements and maintenance renewals. Using Open iT yields remarkable results, such as reducing license costs, allowing tighter control of new investments, and the added benefit of creating more cost-conscious users.

“Increasing license costs can only be controlled by the effective management of actual usage rates. Software metering makes realistic and optimized software license management possible.”

Open iT helps companies visualize software application usage. Open iT provides the usage data needed to achieve an optimized license portfolio quickly and easily.

“Open iT was designed as a centralized usage metering and management system. It was created to help designers check a license’s actual utilization rate and to auto-check the system.Open iT standardizes the management of real usage rates. Management and users can share and visualize utilization data, thereby providing a constant reminder not to waste license usage..”

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considered it the best for its functional capability. Also, we trusted the support service offered by Daikin Industry. They gave us support and helped to implement and launch the system. This helped to reassure us that we had made the right decision.

After a six month trial, Open iT was completely installed and integrated in March 2006. It was used to meter license usage among the various applications used at Nissan’s Technical and Design Centers, and at the Yokohama factory. The usage information is metered and managed by the Open iT server located within Nissan headquarters. Usage rates are metered frequently and processed quickly by Open iT.

Usage Status“A complete assessment of the usage rate of several applications can be performed in a matter of a few days..”

Mr. Dai MatsubaraGlobal Information System Headquarters Engineering Systems Department

After installing Open iT we implemented a license inventory process for all applications and server information. We determined a management policy for each of these applications in order to formulate which features we would focus on among the various usage data that would be collected by Open iT. Because of their importance, preparation and data collection were carried out over a long period of time. This helped inform Management’s decision-making process. We then used a tool that takes the data fromOpen iT and automatically computes usage rates.

Open iT was fully implemented in April 2007, after a minimal amount of preparation. As a result of the implementation, calculating our applications’ monthly usage rates takes only a few days each month. It has been the source of great improvements in work efficiency.

Mr. Ijima: Daikin Industry helped to integrate an Open iT-centered management system. It has been extremely

effective in speeding up our systems management process.

Outcome of Open iT Installation“Removal of applications that had low usage rates and overall license cost reduction of 10%..”

Mr. Matsubara: Every month, usage rates allow a designated manager and a development cost manager to decide whether there are applications and licenses that should be eliminated. If an average utilization rate is less than 80%, the number of licenses for an application is reduced in order to reestablish the 80% utilization rate. By eliminating or reducing those licenses that are barely used, the total number of licenses for an application can be dramatically decreased. By doing this, we have already reduced our licensing costs by more than 10%.

We tried to find the best combination of floating licenses and nodelock licenses using usage data collected by Open iT. The license costs can be reduced by allotting nodelock licenses to a user who executes largescale calculations more frequently, and floating licenses to those who execute them less often.Open iT allowed us to collect data that reflected user requests over a one year period; data that informed our subsequent licensing decisions.

Mr. Masaki TanakaGlobal Information System Headquarters Engineering Systems Department

Based on past operational results and detailed analysis, along with our future business plans, we decided that improving our usage rates would improve user efficiency. Now users can view actual usage data that shows each application’s hourly and daily usage. We often used to accept resource requests from users without justification since it was difficult to analyze real needs. Now we are able to limit the conditions under which enhancement requests are made.

“Visualizing and communicating usage rates has resulted in users becoming more aware of issues such as waste and the need for increased efficiency.”

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Mr. Ijima: Open iT has enabled us to build an effective system for centralizing the management of our application use and controlling our utilization rates. Most users have become aware that they will only have access to licenses that are needed and not those that are unnecessary. We have been able to provide users requesting usage information with immediate feedback so that they are equipped to manage their license requirements themselves.

The ability to view our utilization rates and share this information with our administrators has brought our users a greater awareness of waste. Initially, our administrators were given the task of reducing and eliminating unnecessary licenses, but recently users have been trying to take on this responsibility themselves.

Mr. Matsubara: It will make the jobs of our users and administrators much easier if they can judge the necessity for a license, or where unnecessary applications can be removed. We expect that one effect will be that users will learn when licenses are limited and choose other available times when they can use a license, in order to equalize license usage.

More improvements to utilization rates can be expected by the disclosure of usage data collected by Open iT.

Mr. Tanaka: If no error message is displayed when there is a shortage of licenses, users will not be aware of the high usage rates of a particular license. If users can be made aware of the shortage, they will know the situation is only temporary and can then attempt to obtain a license at a different time. When this happens, even higher utilization rates can be achieved.

Future Expectations“Visualizing usage rates and sharing them with users resulted in greater waste consciousness.“

Mr. Ijima: We expect that Daikin Industry will continue to assist Nissan in finding ways to maximize our utilization rates. We believe they will offer advice to improve our management and calculation methods that are needed to further increase our utilization rates. Due to industry trends, this information and assistance is becoming even more crucial. One feature that will particularly help us is the ability to shut down a license which has been launched but is not being used. This puts us in a position where we can achieve standardized business processes and utilize outsourcing effectively.

Mr. Ijima: I think we can still make more improvements, particularly with the management of nodelock licenses. One of the reasons why we chose to adopt Open iT is that it can be applied to nodelock licenses which is where I want to see further improvements. Also, with project charging for CAE resource costs, I want to keep data collection automated, providing the most precise analysis possible.

Open iT, Inc.www.openit.cominfo@openit.com

* Calculation method of monthly usage rateMonthly utilization rate is calculated by the average value of a month based on the formula; [Maximum simultaneous use number per day]÷[Number of possessed licenses]=[Utilization rate per day].

* The product and company names mentioned in this article are the property of the companies and are their registered trademarks.

We now plan to visualize hardware usage using Open iT. We will pursue the expansion of our waste reduction objectives. Visualization of the usage status is meant to improve our users’ accuracy in planning.

Mr. Matsubara: Open iT will continue to be recognized as an invaluable tool in reaching our long-term goals.

Nissan Motor Company LimitedLiving in rich life

Main Office Location: 6-17-1 Ginza Chuo-Ku Tokyo-To

Capital: 605,814,000,000Yen (As of March 31, 2008)

Sales Turnover: 10,824,238,000,000 Yen (Consolidated result as of 2007 fiscal year)

Number of Employees: 31,081(Single base as of March 31, 2008) 180,535 (Consolidated base as of March 31, 2008)

© 2007 Open iT, Inc. All rights reserved. This module overview is for informational purposes only. Please refer to owners manual and license documents for detailed functionality. Specifications are subject to change.

Open iT® is a registered trademark of Open iT, Inc. Other products, services, and brands mentioned herein are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners