IdeaGen's flexible software solutions have been turned to many areas over the years. Our client base is as diverse as it comes and often a customer will implement our solutions to solve a specific problem, only to find that it will do a great deal more.
Few implementations illustrate this as well as the current multi-ship implementation for Andrew Weir Ship Management (AWSL). AWSL is wholly owned by Andrew Weir & Company who have been in business for over 119 years. They recently overhauled their document management system to streamline the way in which vital information would be used in both the company vessels and the shore offices.
After exhausting the available maritime solutions to their document management needs, AWSL turned to the terrestrial market and IdeaGen's powerful Quality Workbench solution.
We needed a system that could control all the codes and standards we are working with...
... cost, flexibility and freedom to change the documents ourselves, these were some of the things we had problems with looking at the maritime options...
Andrew Latter, ISM manager at AWSL explained: "The process began when AWS, which was using a maritime software product for all it's operations, realised that the portion of the system responsible for information flow wasn't performing quite as well as the company would like."
"...our search led us to a document management system from IdeaGen called Quality Workbench."
Due to the costs of effective ship-to-shore satellite communication, it called for a flexible but foolproof way to ensure that each ship had access to the appropriate sets of manuals and key documents that are centrally controlled in the shore offices.
Andrew continued... "Flexibility in using the software was one of the key issues for AWS in deciding that this was the right package for our requirements... simplicity was key. They (IdeaGen) weren't trying to push us into one way of working like some of the other systems we looked at. This software is modular and we've just licensed the modules that we needed to do what we wanted."
Easy searching for key information and the powerful audit capabilities ensures that the staff have complete control over their processes and information.
"Ideagen have been very good to work with" continued Andrew. "They set up training courses in our offices".
Our trainer also spent several days on board ship fitting staff training
around the busy crew schedules.
Richard Waywell, Account Manager for Andrew Weir has been pleased the implementation has gone so well. "This is a perfect example of how document and information flow issues can be solved by looking away from the obvious. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Andrew Weir and wish them every success."
To read more on this story, see the two page feature in the latest edition of Digital Ship magazine.
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