Bechtel

Aurora Helped Bechtel Complete Early

Aurora was chosen by Bechtel to help schedule the destruction of the U.S. Chemical Weapons stockpile at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) in Kentucky. This massive effort had a deadline of September 30, 2023 per the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty ratified in 1997. Bechtel leveraged the benefits of Aurora’s intelligent scheduling and ability to model real-world project details other software could not, to successfully complete the mission ahead of the September 30, 2023 treaty deadline. The final munition stockpile of chemical weapons was safely destroyed by July 7, 2023.

Aurora’s selection for such a mission-critical project underscores its reputation as one of the most advanced scheduling tools available today. Unlike conventional scheduling software, Aurora is built to handle highly complex, constraint-rich projects where thousands of interdependent tasks, limited resources, and strict deadlines converge. Its intelligent algorithms can simulate real-world operational details, from resource availability and sequencing to unexpected disruptions, ensuring that schedules remain both realistic and adaptable.

At BGCAPP, Aurora’s ability to optimize the resource-constrained critical path and near resource-constrained critical paths as well as provide dynamic updates gave Bechtel a unique advantage. Instead of relying on static Gantt charts, the team was able to leverage Aurora’s advanced conflict resolution and “what-if” analysis features to explore alternative strategies when challenges arose. This capability proved essential in an environment where safety, compliance, and timing were paramount.

Aurora also excels at multi-project scheduling, allowing organizations like Bechtel to align resources across overlapping workstreams without sacrificing efficiency. Its transparency features, including clear rationale for scheduling decisions, build trust among project managers and stakeholders who need confidence in the system’s recommendations.

By integrating Aurora into its planning process, Bechtel not only met but exceeded treaty expectations, demonstrating how advanced scheduling technology can contribute directly to global safety and compliance. The success at BGCAPP stands as a testament to Aurora’s ability to support some of the most demanding and high-stakes projects in the world.