Reflecting on Bombardier

Dynamic Consultants did an excellent job while presenting Bombardier’s best practices for a third attempt to implement an ERP system. They presented best practices and areas of improvements for four key areas, executive management, project management, knowledge transfer and adoption, which were reflected from Bombardier’s second attempt in implementing ERP. They rated each best practice on a red, yellow or green scale in which the yellow best practices demonstrated in the second attempt need a little work and the red rated practices from the second attempt certainly need improvement. With that said the following were best practices that the consultants rated in yellow and red, coincidentally some of these items that were also noted as needing attention in the first analysis (blog) of Bombardier’s ERP Implementation.

Yellow:

• Executive Management should remain actively involved throughout the implementation.
• Create a project organization structure to provide planning and quick response for decision making, issues management as well as aggressive project management processes.
• Ensure proper management that distinguishes best-in-class ERP implementation. Have a dedicated project manager who is involved in both planning and ongoing management.
• Define, understand, map and prioritize key business requirements and processes.
• Create a Prerequisite End User Skills Education Plan to develop end users.
• Use of consultants limited to facilitation.

Red:

• The project team composition should represent all functional areas where the software will be implemented. Each functional area should be adequately resourced to ensure that ‘backfills’ are in place to release key team participants.
• Develop your own success criteria and expectations.
• Create Training Staffing Plan to customize facilitation of ERP systems.
• Create a Training Delivery Plan to develop proper content and training logistics.
• A Curriculum Matrix will provide a visual snapshot of end user progress.
• A separate Training Budget is vital to ensure support throughout implementation.
• Conduct a phased-rollout of the new ERP system.
• Change of administrative processes to fit the software.

After hearing the thoughts from the Dynamic Consultants on each best practice it is clear that their suggestions are accurate and should be followed. The items listed above in bold were overlooked in the first analysis (blog) of Bombardier and should definitely be considered during the third implementation. The consultants covered those best practices and provided the company with feedback that should and need to be reflected during the third attempt at implementing the ERP system for Bombardier. Two very significant areas of concern that were identified in the first analysis (blog) of Bombardier’s implementation of an ERP system and rated red as needing major improvements by Dynamic Consultants were the going live phase and training for the implementation. The consultants shared valuable best practices that will have a great impact during the third implementation if followed.