Following the award of a global contract, one of the many invensys global purchasing initiatives, NRG was invited to implement a digital solution at Westinghouse Signals in Chippenham, one of the largest Invensys sites within the UK. Early results show significant cost savings and immediate improvements in productivity. 

Invensys is the 10 billion engineering and electronics group.  After competitive tenders from four major organisations had been fully examined, NRG was awarded a global contract with Invensys to supply digital multi-functional and analogue copier/fax equipment.

Suzanne McAuley, Commodity Manager, Invensys Global purchasing, told Invensys staff, 'NRG is a well positioned global supplier that has a team in place to evaluate your requirements, provide solutions and compute cost savings data vital to Invensys Divisions and the Global Purchasing initiative.'

Westinghouse Signals have been signalling railways for over 100 years and today leads the world in advanced technology signalling and train control systems. Six offices in the UK, Germany and Hong Kong support the Chippenham site. The headquarters in Chippenham was chosen as a pilot scheme.

Two specific requirements were studied : bulk copying in the print room, and various demands from different departments located throughout the large building. Each of these departments had 'satellite' copiers serving a group of managers and other staff. The equipment had all been leased or purchased at different times from a multiplicity of manufacturers and presented a total mismatch to each other and the developing needs of the organisation. 

NRG Consulting conducted a comprehensive site survey, looking at what Westinghouse Signals had in terms of equipment, what they did with it and what quantities were involved. Their recommendations have resulted in a reduction in the number of different types of machine. Implementation took place in one day, including the removal of previous machines. John Houghton, R&D Contract Manager, comments, 'We're very happy with the solution. At the moment the equipment is used for copying and faxing, with printing set to come on line gradually, permitting us to reduce the number of our multi-badged network printers.'

Westinghouse Signals' decision to adopt workgroup multi-functional devices has revolutionised the way they copy and fax. For example, all faxes now received as documents are printed in reverse order. Copying facilities - which used to output a maximum of 22 pages per minute - are vastly improved, with speeds from 35 - 55 ppm, plus reduced cost-per-copy outlay therefore providing immediate savings. These cost savings will increase as the machines are used as network printers.