Submarine IPT CWE

Improving Collaboration Across the Submarine IPT

The UK MoD Submarine Support Integrated Project Team (Sub IPT) performs a critical role in maintaining availability of the Royal Navy's fleet of nuclear submarines.

Challenge

The overhaul and refit of a nuclear submarine is an enormously complex and lengthy programme, involving a range of industry and MoD parties spread across numerous sites.

In 1999 the Sub IPT needed to prepare for the first major refit of HMS Vanguard - timely completion was critical to maintaining availability of the UK strategic nuclear deterrent - delay was not an option.

Solution

With greater emphasis on the MoD/Industry partnership, the Sub IPT identified a need to improve the way in which information was shared.

LSC Group designed, developed, implemented and continues to support a Collaborative Working Environment (CWE) comprising:

• A secure portal (allowing single sign on to key MoD and Industry systems)
• Business process automation through the use of workflow (this also allows rapid development of new automated processes)
• An advanced, secure document management vault
• A comprehensive business intelligence tool (providing a real time digital dashboard)

Benefits

Currently with 1500 users, the CWE is enabling the Sub IPT to reap significant business benefits.

• HMS Vanguard - turnaround times, for key processes, were improved by an average of 45% for technical enquiries, 69% for concessions and 48% for surveys compared to the original paper based process.
• Reduced support costs through the availability of key data sources
• Data 'entered once - used many times'
• Improved visibility and accountability of processes
• Creation of a truly collaborative culture across MoD and Industry boundaries

The CWE is also being used across other land and air environments - resulting in an additional 1500 users.