Saving Hours and Strengthening Integrity: Woodplc’s Project Controls Success with XER Schedule Toolkit
Saving Hours and Strengthening Integrity: Woodplc’s Project Controls Success with XER Schedule Toolkit
About Donna Thompson & Woodplc
Name: Donna Thompson
Job Title & Company: Project Controls Manager at Woodplc
How Scheduling and Project Planning Fit into My Daily Work
As a Project Controls Manager, planning and scheduling are core components of the services we deliver on a continual basis. Effective schedule management underpins everything we do, from project execution to contractual compliance.
Before Using XER Schedule Toolkit
Challenges Faced
Prior to using XER Schedule Toolkit, conducting schedule integrity checks was a highly manual and time-consuming process. Extracting data from schedule logs and transposing them for analysis was cumbersome and often unreliable, particularly for larger schedules that could occasionally crash the software.
Limitations of Previous Methods
We relied on P6 schedule logs for assessments, but this process lacked efficiency and scalability. There was also no tailored output, and the manual steps introduced a higher risk of delays or errors when working on complex programmes.
Your Experience with XER Schedule Toolkit
How I First Heard About the Toolkit
I began using XER Schedule Toolkit in 2018 and was introduced to it as a solution for demonstrating schedule integrity, particularly on NEC contracts.
Why We Chose XER Schedule Toolkit
The Toolkit provided a clear advantage in evidencing the robustness of our schedules, which is especially important in regulated contractual environments like NEC. It also offered a structure we could customise for our internal needs.
Getting Started
The onboarding process was smooth, with clear communication and consistent support from the team. Having an internal administrator role meant we could quickly and efficiently manage user access as staff changed or moved roles.
What I Like Most
The Toolkit’s flexibility stands out, particularly its ability to be structured around our requirements. Additionally, the ability to assign in-house administrators makes user management straightforward. The Toolkit is also rich in functionality, with useful features such as Earned Value Management (EVM) and Critical Path Analysis (CPA).
The Impact & Results
Improvements & Time Savings
One of the key benefits has been the significant reduction in time spent on schedule reviews. For a medium-sized project, using XER Schedule Toolkit over the manual method saves several hours per run. The added features like EVM and CPA have improved the quality and depth of our reporting.
Efficiency Gains
XER Toolkit makes comparing schedules and performing integrity checks much faster, which is particularly helpful during tenders or when assessing changes. It also reduces the risk of errors and improves consistency across the team.
Recommendation
Would I Recommend XER Schedule Toolkit?
Absolutely. I fully recommend XER Schedule Toolkit as an essential part of any project controls software suite. Its ability to streamline reviews, support multiple users, and enhance the integrity of our schedules makes it invaluable.
What I’d Say to Someone Who’s Unsure
The Toolkit pays for itself in time savings alone. Its ability to easily combine and compare XER files is a huge advantage, particularly in fast-paced environments such as tendering or change impact assessments. If schedule integrity and efficiency are important to your organisation, this tool is a smart investment.
Summary
Donna Thompson, Project Controls Manager at Woodplc, has used XER Schedule Toolkit since 2018 to improve efficiency and ensure schedule integrity across NEC contracts. By replacing manual processes with a tailored, user-friendly tool, her team has saved hours per project and enhanced reporting with built-in features like EVM and CPA. Donna recommends XER Toolkit as a time-saving and highly effective solution for any organisation looking to strengthen its project controls capabilities.