BAE Systems reduces post-review process from 24 hours to 30 minutes
BAE Systems, Inc. provides large-scale systems engineering, integration, and sustainment services across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains
As a Defence Contractor working primarily for the US Government and headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, BAE Systems originally purchased PleaseReview in 2015 and now it has become an integral part of the company’s day to day office routine.
Leslie Hodges, Business Winning Support Director at BAE Systems, I&S, explains: “We needed an online document collaboration tool that allowed all teams across the company to work simultaneously with commenting that was easy to capture post review.”
The challenge
Complying with both U.S. Government Security and Export regulations and customer contractual agreements
meant that BAE Systems Inc. needed a trusted, efficient software tool that streamlined the process of proposal colour team reviews.
BAE Systems has seen review teams as large as 250 people, however a typical review can consist of 15-20 employees across different sectors of the company.
Therefore, finding a tool that allowed all teams to work on the same document simultaneously, and in real-time was crucial for the business to work towards their goals.
Leslie explains that the company found themselves losing days’ work due to their writers waiting for feedback. “BAE needed a product that was easy for our reviewers to use, with the ability to quickly pull results from the tool and provide feedback to the writers.”
The challenge
Complying with both U.S. Government Security and Export regulations and customer contractual agreements
meant that BAE Systems Inc. needed a trusted, efficient software tool that streamlined the process of proposal colour team reviews.
BAE Systems has seen review teams as large as 250 people, however a typical review can consist of 15-20 employees across different sectors of the company.
Therefore, finding a tool that allowed all teams to work on the same document simultaneously, and in real-time was crucial for the business to work towards their goals.
Leslie explains that the company found themselves losing days’ work due to their writers waiting for feedback. “BAE needed a product that was easy for our reviewers to use, with the ability to quickly pull results from the tool and provide feedback to the writers.”
Whilst working remotely, sometimes it’s hard to figure out if a comment is missing or who the review has been passed on to. But to have a virtual rolling review with a report mitigates this; I don’t think that we’ll ever go back to in-person reviews.
The solution
PleaseReview has provided BAE Systems Inc. with a streamlined process for proposals across all three sectors of the company.
Electronic Systems, Intelligence and Security, and Platforms and Services have all reaped the benefits from using the document collaboration tool.
Leslie explains: “Our Contractors, Technical Writers, Vice President and Partners all have access to PleaseReview, it enables us with the capability of using it internationally for oversees work because of where it sits in our network.
“BAE has over 2000 registered users that use the product for proposal/document reviews. The implementation of the product was excellent, and the product is incredibly user friendly, we love the interface.”
The Results
BAE Systems, Inc. immediately witnessed benefits from using PleaseReview, “Previously, our reviews were all hardcopy, and it would take us at least 24 hours to gather all the comments and consolidate them back into one document.
With the metrics used in PleaseReview we have reduced 24 hours’ worth of work down to 30 minutes.”
“The ability to mirror government rating systems has proven invaluable to our review teams and has allowed us to reduce rework and speed up the review recovery process.”
Enabling BAE Systems with this streamlined process has resulted in extra time for other processes, Leslie explains: “Our bid goals have increased by 10% this year and PleaseReview will help us to achieve that.”
“We now have more time for our reviewers. We do not have to have consensus meetings anymore, because everybody can see and be in the same document at once.
So, the actual process of scheduling and completing a review has halved, which has been very useful during the Pandemic and working from home.”
It has also helped the company audit their reviews, “While working remotely, sometimes it’s hard to figure out if a comment is missing or who the review has been passed on to.
But to have a virtual rolling review with a report mitigates this; I don’t think that we’ll ever go back to in-person reviews.”
The Results
BAE Systems, Inc. immediately witnessed benefits from using PleaseReview, “Previously, our reviews were all hardcopy, and it would take us at least 24 hours to gather all the comments and consolidate them back into one document.
With the metrics used in PleaseReview we have reduced 24 hours’ worth of work down to 30 minutes.”
“The ability to mirror government rating systems has proven invaluable to our review teams and has allowed us to reduce rework and speed up the review recovery process.”
Enabling BAE Systems with this streamlined process has resulted in extra time for other processes, Leslie explains: “Our bid goals have increased by 10% this year and PleaseReview will help us to achieve that.”
“We now have more time for our reviewers. We do not have to have consensus meetings anymore, because everybody can see and be in the same document at once.
So, the actual process of scheduling and completing a review has halved, which has been very useful during the Pandemic and working from home.”
It has also helped the company audit their reviews, “While working remotely, sometimes it’s hard to figure out if a comment is missing or who the review has been passed on to.
But to have a virtual rolling review with a report mitigates this; I don’t think that we’ll ever go back to in-person reviews.”
I have recommended Ideagen multiple times to our other sectors at BAE Systems, Inc., resulting in us using PleaseReview across the company. Our account representative has been wonderful to work with as they have been very responsive and helpful throughout. We’ve had no issues working with the company at all.
Key features
A streamlined review process that has turned 24 hours’ worth of work into 30 minutes
Incredibly user-friendly interface with a virtual rolling review of document collaboration
The capability of using PleaseReview internationally for overseas work across large teams
Our bid goals have increased by 10% this year and PleaseReview will help us to achieve that
BAE Systems, Inc. are able to achieve greater levels of efficiency and productivity by streamlining their review times and making information as transparent as possible for all stakeholders involved. This allows them to focus on the work that matters - delivering their products and services to the highest standard.
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