NKD Agility helped SLB unify build and release processes across 90 teams in 13 countries, boosting team ownership, efficiency, and engineering accountability.
SLB (formerly Schlumberger), a global energy technology company, had over 90 engineering teams in 13 locations across 9 countries contributing to a single product: Petrel. Each team operated independently, choosing its own source control system, build environment, and branching strategy. Some used Git, others Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC), SVN, or even in-house tools.
The result? A sprawling mess of incompatibilities, blind spots, and inefficiencies.
Martin Hinshelwood from NKD Agility was asked to assess the situation and recommend a path forward. The goal: consolidate build and source control processes to enable faster, more reliable, and more autonomous development.
Martin’s assessment uncovered:
Martin didn’t implement the solution directly. Instead, he provided:
This case represents a core NKD Agility principle:
Real engineering excellence isn’t about tighter control—it’s about giving teams the right structure so they can take responsibility for quality, speed, and stability.
Martin’s advice helped SLB do just that: reframe build and release as team-owned practices rather than operational burdens.
When engineers own the system they work in, magic happens. NKD Agility helps organizations create the clarity, structure, and culture where that ownership can thrive.
If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.
We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.
Xceptor - Process and Data Automation
Teleplan
Genus Breeding Ltd
Milliman
Jack Links
Healthgrades
Big Data for Humans
Flowmaster (a Mentor Graphics Company)
Slaughter and May
Lean SA
Bistech
ALS Life Sciences
Higher Education Statistics Agency
NIT A/S
Akaditi
CR2
SuperControl
Philips
Washington Department of Enterprise Services
New Hampshire Supreme Court
Nottingham County Council
Ghana Police Service
Department of Work and Pensions (UK)
Royal Air Force
Akaditi
CR2
Healthgrades
Slicedbread
Milliman
Lockheed Martin