Case Study: National Oilwell Varco improves design quality and engineer accountability with PTC's eLearning and assessment solutions

National Oilwell Varco uses PTC® University’s eLearning and assessment solutions to improve design and accountability

National Oilwell Varco (NOV) Pressure Control Group (PCG), a global leader in oilfield products, faced growing regulatory and quality-accountability demands after the Deepwater Horizon incident and needed to ensure engineers were proficient with PTC Creo and design best practices. Traditional mentor-based onboarding was creating rework and slowing delivery, so NOV sought a structured training and assessment approach tied to its core design tools. PTC’s University eLearning and assessment offerings (including PTC University Precision LMS and PTC Creo training) became central to that effort.

PTC implemented tailored learning paths, online eLearning, and assessment tools—Pro/FICIENCY for proficiency testing, ModelCHECK for automated design-standard checks, and Expert Model Analysis (XMA) for model-quality evaluation—integrated into NOV’s Competency Management System. The PTC solution produced measurable benefits: SMEs receive more focused technical questions, rework has been reduced, and existing employees save 50%–60% of training time by taking only targeted courses; NOV also expects faster ramp-up for new hires (as quick as 30 days vs. three months) and smoother software migrations, improving overall design quality and accountability. PTC’s tools thus helped NOV strengthen competency, support lean initiatives, and demonstrate compliance.

National Oilwell Varco

Steve Larimore

Engineering Training Manager