Delivery Assurance – Rescue & Recovery
Global Aerospace and Defense | Rescue & Recovery
Rescuing and Delivering a Complex SAP ECC6 Implementation for a $2.5 Billion Global Aerospace & Defense Manufacturer
Impact At A Glance
Successful Go-Live
SAP ECC6 implementation completed at the most complex and highest-revenue site
Establishment of a Global SAP Template
Implemented the necessary tools, metrics, and procedures to create a global template
Restored Project Control and Confidence
Rigorous program management governance, controls, and reporting
Project Overview
$2.5 billion global manufacturing company serving the aerospace, defense, industrial, and commercial sectors initiated an SAP ECC6 implementation at one of its most complex and highest-revenue sites. However, the project quickly encountered significant challenges due to inadequate program management, governance, and controls. After a nine-month delay and approximately $4.5 million in associated costs, the manufacturer engaged Liberty Advisor Group to rescue the failing implementation. This engagement followed Liberty’s successful turnaround of an Infor ERP project for another of the client’s divisions.
The Business Problem
The Challenge: A Failing SAP Implementation with High Stakes
The manufacturer faced a critical situation:
- Failed Project Launch: The initial SAP ECC6 implementation attempt lacked essential program management, governance, and controls, leading to significant delays and cost overruns.
- High Complexity and Risk: The implementation site was the division’s most complex and highest-revenue generating, making a successful deployment critical to the company’s overall performance.
- Missed Go-Live Deadline: The project’s go-live date had been pushed back by approximately nine months, disrupting business operations and incurring substantial financial losses.
- Lack of a Global Template: The initial project did not adequately consider the need for a reusable SAP template for future deployments across other divisions.
Our Solution: Establishing a PMO and Driving to Successful Go-Live
Liberty Advisor Group took a multi-pronged approach to stabilize and successfully complete the SAP implementation:
1) Program Assessment and Restructuring: We conducted a holistic program analysis, identifying the root causes of the previous failures and providing recommendations to revitalize the project.
2) Program Management Office (PMO) Establishment: We established a robust PMO to manage the implementation, instilling best practices in governance, controls, reporting, and risk management.
3) Expertise-Driven Execution: We leveraged our deep functional, data, and cutover expertise to develop a critical path to go-live, a comprehensive cutover plan, and effective testing procedures.
The Outcome
Liberty Advisor Group’s intervention resulted in three major outcomes for the manufacturer:
1) Successful Go-Live at a Critical Site: The SAP ECC6 implementation was successfully completed at the division’s most complex and highest-revenue site, achieving a critical milestone after the initial project failure. This mitigated further financial losses and operational disruptions.
2) Establishment of a Global SAP Template: Beyond the immediate implementation, we helped the client establish the necessary tools, metrics, and procedures to create a global SAP template. This template will enable the manufacturer to efficiently deploy SAP across its other divisions, realizing significant long-term cost savings and operational synergies.
3) Restored Project Control and Confidence: The implementation of rigorous program management practices, including governance, controls, and reporting, restored control and predictability to the project. This instilled confidence in the IT organization’s ability to deliver strategic initiatives, reversing the negative perception created by the initial failure.
Conclusion
Liberty Advisor Group rescued failing, high-stakes SAP implementations and delivered successful outcomes for our clients. By providing expert program management, deep technical expertise, and a focus on best practices, we helped the global aerospace and defense manufacturer overcome significant challenges, achieve a critical go-live, and establish a foundation for future SAP deployments across its global enterprise. The successful turnaround not only addressed the immediate problem but also provided long-term strategic value. Contact our team of experienced consultants here.
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