CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive

29 November 2005

Implementation Investments

Kent, WA School District Reduces Capital Expenditures Using Centric Software's Web-based Project Management Environment

Centric Software announced that the Kent School District in Kent, WA (KSD) has achieved significant cost savings every year using Centric's project management solution, Centric Project. For more than seven years, Centric Project has played a significant role in KSD's ability to repeatedly deliver new construction and renovation projects on time and under budget, as well as to cost-effectively manage existing facilities.

The real-time collaborative environment in Centric Project connects strategic planning with project management and team activities, and improves the project efficiency of geographically dispersed project managers, construction managers, consultants, architects, engineers, contractors and facilities staff. This environment generates as much as five percent reduction in capital expenditures per project. Reductions in rework and fewer delays contribute to the savings. KSD has also reduced the number of steps in the review process from twelve to four, leading to significant improvements in overall project execution.

"Centric Project easily paid for itself on the first project more than seven years ago, and has subsequently paid for itself many times over," said Daniel Lea, facilities technical services manager for the Kent School District. "We have avoided cost overruns, and the need for additional management and support staff, as our existing team works more productively. In addition, we have achieved significant reductions in many of our administrative costs, such as information transmittal, document management and storage, slashing those in half with Centric Project."

With most of the funding for new construction and renovation projects now coming through public bond measures, KSD takes special care to be responsible stewards of the public's capital. The next vote on a capital improvement and school construction bond takes place on February 7, 2006. If the bond passes, $106 million will be made available to address repair and maintenance, additional capacity, and health and safety needs across the district.

"The need to collaborate, work efficiently and cost effectively is universal in the construction industry. It doesn't matter if you are a national retailer opening 75 new stores this year or a school district opening a new middle school," said Chris Groves, chief executive officer at Centric Software. "KSD's facilities staff has demonstrated through the years that the adoption of the right technology dramatically improves project efficiency and cost control. We continue to be impressed with their dedication to using technology to be as efficient as possible in everything they do."

Centric Software accelerates innovation and program execution through its OpenPLMT solutions. The OpenPLM federated systems solutions provide distributed enterprises with "out-of-the-box" connectivity to major operational and product lifecycle management (PLM) systems. Global enterprises, such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hamilton Sundstrand, Siemens, SNC-Lavalin, Timex, Volvo, Iowa State University and others, use Centric's OpenPLM solutions to achieve top line revenue growth and direct cost reductions. Customers represent multiple industries, including aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, AEC/owner operator, life sciences, consumer electronics companies and universities.

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