BMT completes major SiCA system upgrade for the MoD

BMT Defence Services Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has significantly upgraded the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Systems Information Co-ordination Agency (SiCA) database and website.

Managed by BMT, SiCA provides Naval Combat Systems Interface Co-ordination (NCSIC) for new or modified equipment to be installed in Royal Navy warships and submarines. The SiCA database acts as the hub of essential core data relating to: past, present and planned equipment changes and the interfaces between equipment; ownership; and approved documents and drawings.

Major improvements
“The new SiCA system replaces the previous, restrictive legacy database,” says Sam Dorling, an information services manager at BMT Defence Services. “The new system provides a straightforward but secure logon from the SiCA website, a better user interface, simpler searches, faster data access, easier data export to Excel, and greatly improved navigation, fluidity and all-round performance.”

“The MoD is more than happy with the new SiCA system,” says Pat Wilkinson, a configuration manager at BMT Defence Services. “This project clearly demonstrates BMT’s ability to understand and translate customer requirements into workable solutions. It shows how BMT has the dedication, expertise and flexibility to transform a legacy database into a powerful and effective new tool for the customer.”

Expandable
Over the past year, BMT and SiCA teams have worked closely together on the project to meet the MoD’s current and future requirements.

“The new system can be adapted over time,” says Sam Dorling. “We can expand the SiCA service whenever required, for example from encompassing warships and submarines as now, to covering additional naval and tri-service applications.”

Strong support
In its SiCA management role, BMT has co-ordinated and monitored all combat system design changes since 1995. Pat Wilkinson says: “We’ve managed SiCA for over 12 years because the MoD values our excellent working relationship, strong support, continual improvement and independence from manufacturing interests.”

SiCA’s responsibilities include:

• administering the MoD-approved Configuration Change Control process
• controlling, amending or re-issuing Interface/Data Exchange Specifications and Interface Certificates under MoD control
• producing and maintaining platform link documentation for submarine combat systems
• storing submarine and most warship Combat System Design Definitions