Alvis Vickers Ltd has the Knowledge to integrate access.

Defence giant Alvis Vickers has integrated all of its IT systems, thanks to Washington-based Knowledge IT.

Staff at Alvis Vickers Ltd can now access information electronically across the company's four sites in Newcastle, Leeds, Telford and Wolverhampton.

When Alvis Vickers was formed in 2002, following a merger between Alvis Vehicles and Vickers Defence Systems, different operating systems meant that the company could not share data, cad drawings or other information across its four sites.

This was further complicated by the lack of integration, coordination and structure at the Telford site where separate IT departments had previously operated independently.

Knowledge IT was awarded the network integration contract by AVL in May 2003 and has just completed the final stages.

The 23-year-old company secured the contract in the face of stiff competition from both national and local firms.

Jeff Czuprynski, AVL's IT manager, said: "We needed to find an IT company that understood the issues involved, and had the skills and expertise to undertake a project of this scale.

"Knowledge had the experience as the company had already completed a number of similar contracts.

"They understood the risks involved and approached the project in a well-planned and structured manner.

"We've already seen performance benefits and anticipate significant cost savings by doing away with duplication and supporting just one system."

Martin Coleman, Knowledge IT's managing director, said: "We were delighted to be chosen to work on this extremely prestigious, exciting programme.

"We have a great deal of experience in Microsoft technologies and this has enabled this project to run smoothly."