 |
 |
||||||||||
|
waitrose |
|||||||||||
|
|
Waitrose case study The ICON System has been implemented into the Waitrose Feasibility Department to assist with the communication and sharing of building design specifications and information. The system allows Waitrose to hold various types of data at different levels, all of which can be easily located through simple navigation or by a search facility. The control of information is managed online so that data can be updated in real-time. This ensures that users can be confident in having access to correct and accurate information at all times. Information can be accessed by any registered user. The information each individual has access to is determined by a permission-based user management tool. ICON is dedicated to providing the secure web-based environment that has allowed Waitrose to expand the scope of the system to external competing suppliers. The system runs on a standard web browser with no requirement for browser plug-ins. It is hosted at a data centre connected to the Internet directly on diversely routed fibre connections with bandwidth up to 4.5GB/s supported by UPS and generator back up power and multiple redundant air conditioning systems. In addition to being an interactive repository for specification information, the system holds basic level information for each of the Waitrose Stores, along with a Document Management System, where drawings and documentation are held and linked into the Design Standards Area. From Legacy Methods to Web-Based Systems Prior to using the ICON system, Waitrose used a PDF based hyperlinked document repository. Although the information held within it was well structured, navigating through it was difficult. The biggest restriction was keeping the data up-to-date. The new web-based solution enables Waitrose to navigate around information much more easily than the old system; more importantly the information can be updated almost immediately. This ensures that users know that they are reading the current specification. Waitrose are also able to manage and track document changes with much more visibility. With each piece of information being date stamped and revision history being available, Waitrose again know that what they are viewing is current and correct. Supported by a secure user access system, Waitrose can trust that different roles, both within Waitrose and suppliers, will only see the areas that have been predetermined by the permission-based system. Waitrose works in a fast moving environment and therefore, one of the keys to the success of the system is communication. Changing specifications without informing users is ineffective. The ICON system has addressed this issue by regularly informing users of any changes that have been made through notification emails. Benefits Realised The ICON System provides a number of benefits to users at Waitrose; primarily enabling simple and effective communication and sharing of design specifications and information. The Design Standards area of the system provides absolute clarity that users have all the necessary information at hand with which to design and build Waitrose branches. Document Management allows Waitrose to be assured that drawings which are used in several areas are not duplicated and therefore know that when one is changed, all are updated. The system also allows information to be shared in a Document Exchange, enabling all users with access rights to share information in files of any size, which can be retrieved at any computer. The service provided by ICON includes administering user system requests, a helpdesk function and managing updates through a change process. This gives Waitrose certainty that users are notified and can track changes that affect projects, both before and during a build. Solution Success The ICON System has made Waitrose's Design Standards information highly visible. Part of the data migration process highlighted to Waitrose many areas where information was both missing and incorrect. The system also focused Waitrose on using a single source for specification information, ensuring that one correct message is always being sent. As part of this increase in awareness, Waitrose has been able to review much of the specification data and make specific changes to elements of its build programme, saving both time and money. An example of this is when the system enabled the review of the doors and ironmongery used in a new build specification, resulting in a 33% reduction in the complexity of the door schedule. In addition to saving time and money prior to a build project beginning, the system has assisted with the reduction of on-site mistakes. The ‘get it right first time’ philosophy implemented by ICON assists in saving time, money and frustration, which in turn has helped to see a reduction in wastage. Success elsewhere has also been apparent; the improved navigation and visibility of information has resulted in a reduction in query calls and emails, freeing up time to focus on other tasks. In addition to this time saving, Waitrose's Design Standards team has seen clear reductions in the amount of time needed managing the specifications which are updated by ICON part of the service provided to Waitrose. |
Case Studies: |
|||||||||
|
training |
 |
||||||||||
|
consultancy |
development |
||||||||||
icon ● construction information management |
index | legal | privacy | links | © ICON 2008 |
||||||||||
