Woodward improved efficiency and collaboration with Planisware, reducing overhead and transforming project management through a unified platform.
Imagine steering a ship as venerable and complex as Woodward, a company with a heritage serving the aerospace and industrial sectors for over 150 years. With their vast catalog of products and operations spread across seventeen countries, managing the complexity of such an enterprise is colossal. David Wyack, a seasoned Program Manager at Woodward, shares how embracing this challenge has led to unprecedented efficiency gains.
The Complex Landscape Challenge - Unifying Operations in High-Stakes Industries
At Woodward, project management involves orchestrating a vast and diverse array of products, each distinct in technology and applications. "Our challenge is dual layered: the sheer scale and the critical need for integration across numerous platforms," David explained. Each business unit historically operated independently, with its own set of systems, creating data silos that obstructed swift decision-making — an untenable situation in a fast-paced, high-stakes industry.
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Woodward enhances aerospace performance across diverse environments.
The Shift from Fragmentation to Integration
"We were at a crossroads where we couldn’t continue in the same fragmented way,” said David. “It wasn’t sustainable." The existing project management tools included a mix of Microsoft Project and custom-written software. They were adequate but failed to provide the seamless interaction and flow of information needed across global teams.
"We manage hundreds of projects, each varying widely in scope and duration," David says. “The diversity of these projects and the expansive scale of operations pushed Woodward's existing project management tools to their limits. More than just volume, the variability in systems across units compounded the complexity. Also, our issues stemmed from each business unit developing its own processes and tools, which often created gaps when projects spanned multiple units."
This approach strained resources and hindered effective collaboration, which are necessary to succeed in any advanced manufacturing environment. As Woodward looked to the future, it became clear that a transformative strategy was necessary to streamline operations and enhance synergy across the board.
How a Unified Platform Helped Woodward Harmonize Project Operations
Choosing Planisware was not merely about adopting a new tool. It was about aligning every project management operation under a single, coherent strategy. "Planisware came offering not just a tool, but a platform where information could flow freely among teams, enable real-time insights and faster reporting," says David.
The integration phase was critical. "As with any major shift, there was apprehension and resistance, particularly from those who were deeply entrenched in the old ways," David recalls.
However, the turning point came when the teams began to see how Planisware's features—like real-time data analytics and collaborative workspaces—transformed their daily workflows.
Streamlining Operations Reduced Overhead by 75%
One of the standout benefits was the dramatic reduction in overhead. "By overhead, we mean those countless hours spent on compiling reports, aligning data, and bridging communication gaps. Planisware reduced these inefficiencies by 75%, allowing our project managers to devote more time to strategic tasks," explains David. “What used to take a couple of days now gets done with a couple of clicks of a button.”
Strategic Benefits for Senior Management
Planisware’s unified platform helps Woodward leaders understand the strategic implications of how every project detail is crucial. "Our leaders now have a dashboard that offers a panoramic view of the company’s projects, enhancing operational efficiency but also financial performance," David highlights. This level of transparency and control is essential for making informed decisions that affect the bottom line.
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Dedicated technicians ensure precision and excellence in every project.
A Cultural Transformation Sparks Collaboration and Shapes Future Growth
Beyond the metrics, the adoption of Planisware catalyzed a cultural shift within Woodward. "It fostered a more collaborative environment, one where sharing information has become the norm, not the exception. This change has not only boosted our project success rates but has also made our teams more agile and adaptive," David notes.
As Woodward continues on its path of digital transformation, the impact of Planisware becomes increasingly significant. "We're seeing a paradigm shift in how projects are managed and executed. Planisware isn’t just a tool for today; it’s a foundation for our future growth," David reflects.
Planisware Propels Woodward’s Strategic Competitive Edge
For Woodward, Planisware has been more than a technological upgrade—it has been a strategic enabler because it aligns every level of project management with the company’s broader goals. "This journey is about enhancing our legacy of leadership in the aerospace and industrial sectors, ensuring we remain as competitive and relevant as ever," concludes David.
