Client: EADS Astrium Challenge: Created by a merger, EADS Astrium had disparate IT platforms that stood in the way of its strategic goals. Solution: CSC and EADS Astrium conducted an SAP-based ERP implementation to integrate and standardize business processes and improve intersite cooperation. Results: Accomplishing the project in 16 months allowed EADS Astrium to cut costs, boost efficiency and position itself to compete globally for satellite construction contracts. Related Information Read about CSC's ERP solutions. Read about CSC's Aerospace and Defense offerings. Contact us and let our experience help you produce results.

A "big bang" occurred for space specialist EADS Astrium on May 3, 2005, when the company launched a new European-wide information system to standardize business processes. With the help of CSC, the sweeping project had reached completion after just sixteen months.

EADS Astrium, a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, is the European leader in satellite design and manufacture. Its businesses cover civil and military telecommunication and observation systems, scientific and navigation programs, and satellite equipment.

Created in 2002 through the merger of four European companies, EADS Astrium faced a major problem. With roughly 6,800 employees and four information systems spread across France, Britain, Germany and Spain, the company was too complex.

"Our European architecture was effective but heterogeneous and could have prevented us from achieving our strategic goals," says Philippe Moulinier, director of the project at EADS Astrium. "This is why we decided, at the end of 2003, to implement a single information system across the sites and standardize our business processes between the countries we operate in."

A European-wide project managed at a relentless pace
EADS Astrium selected CSC in January 2004 to implement SAPHIR (SAP Astrium Project for Harmonization, Integration and Re-engineering of Processes), intended to align the company's practices around SAP.

"EADS Astrium already knew us because we had previously collaborated successfully with them on a European e-procurement project." says Jean-Pierre Kirch, project manager at CSC. "I believe what set CSC apart were our responsiveness and our ability to make rapid progress with SAPHIR right from the start, meeting ambitious schedules and adapting to EADS Astrium's objectives."

The project started in February 2004 with the creation of a multinational project team based in Toulouse, France. Almost one hundred people were involved, both from CSC and EADS Astrium. The geographical scope was limited to the French, German and British sites. The location in Spain was considered a lower priority and excluded.

According to Kirch, working closely with EADS Astrium management allowed the team to complete the first stage of SAPHIR in less than three months, during which the common processes EADS Astrium wished to implement in the three countries were defined.

A state-of-the-art enterprise research planning program
The prototyping stage could then begin. "The British and French sites had been operating with Oracle-based solutions, while in Germany, EADS Astrium was already using an SAP platform," explains Manfred Hocher, IS manager of the project. "We decided to start with a clean sheet and install a state-of-the-art ERP program based on the German experience."

The scope of applications that needed to be supported on the SAP system was wide, ranging from accounting to logistics to business intelligence.

"Although our ambition was to use as many standard SAP functions as possible in order to facilitate future upgrades and maintenance," says Hocher, "we started the specific development stage right away." The development workload was heavy during the summer period, as nearly 40 developers were mobilized to get ready for the first integration tests. The EADS Astrium-CSC team delivered the first integrated version of the system on schedule in September 2004.

Communication, training and support everywhere
According to Kirch, successful ERP programs involve more than software development and technical implementation. CSC knew that major training sessions and change management programs would be necessary to ensure SAPHIR's viability.

Teams conducted training campaigns on the new system and procedures, and bimonthly "road shows" were held at all sites to demonstrate the support of EADS Astrium management.

"We were prepared for a phase of intensive support and had created a dedicated operational organization to provide help and support for the needs of nearly 3,000 on-line users who were getting ready to switch from the old to the new software," says Moulinier.

As solution integrator for the entire SAPHIR project, CSC provided project management (planning, budgeting, risk management, sourcing); change management (business transformation, training support, communication support); business process re-engineering (processes definition, processes harmonization); solution implementation (SAP customizing, code development, documentation); IT infrastructure support; and application services (support for after the solution's launch).

The work to standardize EADS Astrium's information system increased intersite cooperation and fostered company spirit. In more specific terms, SAPHIR enabled the implementation of a central purchasing organization, streamlined company reporting, improved cash management, simplified intracompany production processes and increased visibility of stock levels. It established an internal SAP Competency Center to support the application centrally. The solution also provided a high level of data security required to support EADS Astrium military activities. Finally, the implementation of a single IT system for all entities slashed the cost of operating the system, since there are two fewer systems to maintain.

"This project is a real success," concludes Kirch. "It is also considered by EADS as a reference in the fields of ERP implementation and project management."