From Pilot to Practice: Streamlining Procurement and Engineering at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Abstract

In this case study we report on how Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is utilizing emerging technologies to support engineering and procurement processes. In the context of a major construction project, the National Ignition Facility (NIF), scope, complexity, and tight budget and time restrictions required streamlined business operations and improved collaboration between engineering and procurement. In order to establish a unified information technology (IT) architecture, LLNL is integrating formerly isolated systems and enhancing them through internal development as well as commercial products. The result is highly customized to LLNL’s needs and allows the Lab to meet the requirements of NIF-related engineering and procurement processes in terms of cost, time, quality and complexity. The project also serves as a test bed for a lab-wide, integrated IT infrastructure. This case study is a follow-up to Gebauer and Schad (1999).