WestWind Technologies, Inc., located in Huntsville, Alabama  is an integrator of choice for several DoD and commercial aviation customers. WTI provides a single-source solution encompassing engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, modification, technical documentation, and field team support.  WestWind delivers a quality, cost-effective product in a rapid prototype, quick response environment and has been a key supplier for force protection and force support for Army Aviation operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.   
 

"With a compound annual growth rate of over 50% in the last six years, we can't afford to have an enterprise software system that slows us down," said Dave Otterson, President & CEO, WestWind Technologies. 
 

As a diverse, aerospace and defense project-oriented business, WestWind requires a comprehensive software package that is also flexible enough to support multiple customers, services, and products.   
 

The evaluation process was rigorous, starting with over 70 different software packages.  These were rapidly narrowed down to a handful based on WestWind's preferred hardware and database platform, required project-centric functionality, a solid support model, and references from existing customers who are also operating in an aerospace and defense environment. 
 

Finesse is one of a few packages that natively support "engineer-to-order," a software category that describes Westwind's business of engineering, manufacturing, and installing conversion kits for military and search and rescue helicopters. 
 

"Making the enterprise system work for WestWind is job one," said Ernest Stone, Finesse Implementation Project Manager.  "We wanted not just a system with the functionality we need but a vendor who could and would support a fast and effective implementation." 
 

To make the final selection, over 200 hours were spent in web and on-site demos.  
 

"Technical support can be hard to assess," Dan Parlamento, WestWind's IT Manager offered, "so we focused on having the vendors show us how well they know their own system."   
 

With one business function already using the new system and several more scheduled by year's end, WestWind's management is confident that ESS Finesse enterprise software will enhance their ability to provide a quality product and facilitate the rapid response their customers require.