Guid­ing a Glob­al Man­u­fac­tur­er Through a Work­day HCM Implementation

The Challenge

# From Legacy Systems to Modern HR Operations

A global manufacturer set out to replace its 10-year-old Human Capital Management (HCM) system with Workday HCM. The legacy platform no longer met business needs—processes were inefficient, data quality lagged, and scaling with growth was a challenge. Leaders needed a modern, integrated solution that could streamline HR operations, improve data accuracy, and support the organization’s continued expansion.

The transition came with high stakes. The program required coordination across dozens of contributors, precise risk management to protect payroll and other critical processes, and strong alignment between analysts, system owners, and stakeholders across HR, IT, and operations. The client turned to Propeller for leadership that could orchestrate the complexity, manage the risks, and prepare the organization for change as part of this enterprise-wide transformation.

Our Approach

# Driving Alignment, Mitigating Risk, and Enabling Change

Propeller took the lead on program management, bringing business and technical teams together around a unified plan. We coordinated with stakeholders across HR, engineering, legal, manufacturing, operations, corporate communications, and finance, along with multiple third-party vendors, to keep all functions aligned throughout implementation.

We built detailed resource and financial plans covering more than 35 contributors and a $1.7M budget, ensuring accountability at every stage. Our team tracked scope, schedule, and budget health, reporting regularly to executive leaders and the steering committee. We also managed risks in real time, maintaining a register and decision log, escalating when needed, and putting proactive mitigations in place to keep the program on track.

To drive adoption and readiness, Propeller coached the client’s internal change managers in PROSCI methods, equipping them with tools to guide HR specialists, recruiters, and both hourly and salaried employees through the transition. These combined efforts built leadership alignment, engaged stakeholders across functions, and positioned the workforce to adapt successfully.

# Services Provided

• Change & Project Management
• Data Migration Strategy
• HRIS
• Process Optimization
• Risk Management
• Tech Implementation and Integration

Value Delivered

# A Seamless Workday Launch with Long-Term Impact

The project delivered Workday as the client’s new HCM platform, consolidating multiple legacy systems and enabling more efficient integrations. Employees now benefit from cleaner, centralized data and improved functionality that supports better reporting and decision-making across HR and finance.

Most importantly, payroll transitioned without incident, despite significant risk factors, proving the effectiveness of proactive planning and mitigation. The program met every milestone on time and on budget, successfully supporting more than 1,500 employees.

Through Propeller’s leadership, the client not only launched a new system but also established a scalable HR foundation for efficiency, growth, and future transformation.