Business Challenge

Located in America’s heartland is one of the world’s largest suppliers of commercial airplane assemblies and components.  They offer a diverse line of products and services for aerospace design, support and repair needs. With manufacturing and business office facilities on three continents, their capabilities are technologically world-class in both proficiency and capacity.  Their partnership with Cadence Group was established in 2005 when they spun-off from an even larger aerospace company, resulting in the loss of access to critical information products and services.

The engineers and development groups at the new company depended on fast access to industry information like technical standards and related research for product development.  In their transition from their parent company, they looked for a partner that could keep them on track and on budget with a new virtual library.

Cadence Group Solution

The transition team at this aerospace company asked Cadence Group to develop and implement a virtual library operation. Cadence Group evaluated, and then developed new virtual library content after assessing user needs, analyzing usage statistics and reviewing information product prices and licensing terms.  They also supported the client’s goals by:

• Managing access methods to premium information
• Negotiating vendor costs and contract terms
• Managing order processes and payments
• Developing and maintaining the virtual library Intranet site
• Providing reference and in-depth research service
• Documenting customer support activities and costs against budget
• Promoting library products & services and related training
• Creating and delivering management and other ad hoc reports

All services were centered on the promotion and efficient use of premium resources.  Reports to management routinely focused  on customer support activities,  product usage metrics and cost savings, but custom reports were also developed as requested. Cadence Group worked closely with IT to anticipate or solve information access issues that generally arose with changes to the aerospace company’s global IT infrastructure.

The Results

Engineers and other premium information users were able to keep their projects on schedule by using the virtual library to find the right information at the right time. They could access the company’s electronic subscriptions, keep apprised of new content and related training, learn more about copyrights and restrictions, find FAQs about library content and activities, and contact library staff with additional questions.

Cost savings to the aerospace company over the years was significant.  A couple highlights include:

• Over $131,000 in negotiated savings for all electronic resource subscriptions in 2010.
• Almost $60,000 in negotiated savings for their technical standards subscription in 2010. 

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