The Challenge

Vigor Industrial, a bustling Pacific Northwest shipyard, faced a critical turning point. Their Excel-based estimation process, once sufficient for U.S. Navy and commercial repairs, was now holding them back.

  • Fragile Macros & Delayed Retirements: Custom macros, meant to streamline work, became a liability. The expert behind them couldn’t retire, and no one else could maintain the fragile system.
  • Hidden Knowledge, Lost Opportunities: Past estimates were buried in shared drives, leading to duplicated efforts and missed learning opportunities.
  • Million-Dollar Mistakes: For large bids, multiple estimators working across different files led to disastrous copy-paste errors.

Vigor’s estimation process was the anchor preventing them from securing the bigger contracts they needed to grow.

Oxalis’s Approach

Oxalis didn’t offer a one-size-fits-all fix. Instead, we partnered with Vigor to create a tailored solution:

  1. Deep Dive into the Shipyard: Oxalis immersed ourselves in Vigor’s world, interviewing estimators, observing their workflow, and analyzing their existing tools.
  2. Blueprint for Success: A semi-functional mockup was created, allowing Vigor to provide feedback, prioritize features, and get everyone on board.
  3. Agile Development & Continuous Feedback: Oxalis built the Minimum Viable Product (MVP), incorporating Vigor’s input every step of the way.
  4. Empowering the Crew: Comprehensive training ensured estimators were confident using the new system.
  5. Charting the Course Ahead: A roadmap for future enhancements was established, ensuring continuous improvement.

The Outcome

Oxalis Advanced Estimation (OAE), a modern, online platform, revolutionized Vigor’s estimation process:

  • Real-Time Collaboration: Multiple estimators could work on a single bid seamlessly.
  • Accessible History: Past estimates became a valuable resource, guiding less experienced estimators and improving accuracy.
  • Ongoing Innovation: Oxalis’s bespoke product management approach ensures OAE continues to evolve to meet Vigor’s changing needs.

The Impact

OAE has unleashed Vigor’s full potential. By harnessing historical data and streamlining collaboration, they can now confidently pursue — and win — larger, more complex contracts. Their estimation process is no longer a bottleneck, but a powerful engine driving their growth.

Services Provided

  • Project Management
  • Asset Management
  • Change Management
  • Knowledge Management
  • Training & Transition Management
  • Product Development

About Vigor

Vigor is a diversified industrial business operating in six locations with approximately 2,300 people in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Vigor builds projects for Aerospace and Defense, Energy and Infrastructure, and the Maritime Industry.

Get Started with Oxalis

Looking to achieve similar results to Vigor? Get started with the expert team at Oxalis today.

Explore in-depth details about Oxalis Advanced Estimation by downloading the comprehensive brochure now.