AWE Aldermaston is the headquarters of the Atomic Weapons Establishment’s operations. The AWE has been central to the defence of the United Kingdom for more than 50 years, providing and maintaining the warheads for the country’s nuclear deterrent.

Covering approximately 750 acres near the village of Aldermaston in Berkshire, AWE is responsible for the safe manufacture of highly sophisticated defence weaponry, including Trident Warheads. Such specialist defence products require unique manufacturing skills and complex production systems.

A highly reliable IT infrastructure is also critical. When the company set about the task of sourcing a state-ofthe-art Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution as the backbone for its comprehensive departmental structures and working practices, this was where its relationship with In2grate Business Solutions and its ‘JobScope’ solution began.

By sourcing JobScope, AWE’s objectives were to bring commonality to departmental processes and the many standalone IT systems that were in operation, as well as improving cost efficiencies within its many dedicated engineering and production departments. To achieve this, AWE required an extremely high level of understanding and support from software supplier, In2grate Business Solutions. From the outset the In2grate Business Solutions and AWE teams worked together openly and intensively. Alan Lyford, Manufacturing Business Solutions Manager, commented: “The Product Information Management System (PIMS) team at AWE was very clear as to their specific requirements from the new ERP system and new, more integrated IT infrastructure. The team was allowed a true voice in the configuration and enhancement of the system, resulting in additional functionality
within JobScope that maximised the system’s effectiveness for PIMS to go about its complex daily tasks as smoothly and effectively as possible. It is testimony to the level of flexibility within JobScope that each suggestion from the PIMS team was quickly and efficiently adopted.” Largely due to the level of commitment and focus on the part of both In2grate Business Solutions and AWE staff, the JobScope project, from specification right through to the training of individual users, was completed within the two-year project timeframe.

Lyford said of the AWE / In2grate Business Solutions relationship: “The partnership between In2grate Business Solutions and AWE’s Product Information Management System (PIMS) team was truly exceptional. Every milestone over the two-year project was met on time and within budget. This is particularly impressive when the scale and complexity of the project is taken into account, comprising twelve key stages and over a hundred separate programmes, all on a tight budget.” In2grate Business Solutions is also contracted to supply aftercare services to the PIMS team, to ensure not only the consistent smooth running of ‘JobScope’ but also utilisation of its full capabilities, depending on AWE’s changing requirements.

By sourcing JobScope, AWE has in place an effective engineering-to-order ERP system that has made it possible to harmonise manufacturing processes and departmental integration, resulting in increased efficiency and cost savings. It has also facilitated affordable rationalisation and maintenance of its business technology; established standardised reporting; and improved visibility of business costs and performance. Future system development is also possible as ‘JobScope’ is a long-life product that can be developed economically to meet new manufacturing requirements as they occur. Business reviews and health checks with the ongoing support from In2grate Business Solutions means AWE’s working structures are truly affordable and provide continued value for money.