Scaling Project Management Across an Enterprise
How Thermo Fisher Scientific cut training costs by 60% and unified project teams by partnering with PMI
Scaling Project Management Across an Enterprise
How Thermo Fisher Scientific cut training costs by 60% and unified project teams by partnering with PMI
Summary
Thermo Fisher becomes a PMI Authorized Training Partner and develops project management capability across the enterprise:
- 60% reduction in per-learner costs
- 100% of students recommend the course to colleagues
Facing project delivery harmonization challenges across a global population of over 1,000 project professionals, Thermo Fisher Scientific partnered with PMI to scale a unified approach to project management capability within one of its business groups.
By becoming a PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP), Thermo Fisher centralized Project Management Professional (PMP)® training delivery, reduced per learner training costs by more than 60% compared to external providers, and eliminated most travel-related expenses. Within the first 1.5 years, nearly 100 students attended the PMP® Exam Prep Course and over 40% of participants attempted the exam, earning the PMP certification with a near perfect first-time pass rate.
Their success is helping establish a shared project management language across business groups. Students have ranged from early career project managers to senior directors, and internal surveys results show that 100% of the students recommend the course to employees interested in achieving PMP certification.
These results, combined with strong learner feedback, led corporate leadership to centrally fund annual ATP licensing fees and accelerate simplifying access and creating value for the organization. Together, these changes reflect a measurable shift in how project management capability is being developed, scaled and valued across the enterprise.
The lack of alignment resulted in several challenges, including:
- Divisional silos limited knowledge-sharing and hindered a unified “community of practice.”
- The PMP certification wasn’t integrated into internal career development paths, so managers were reluctant to approve funding for training, and few employees pursued the certification.
- External training providers were costly and couldn’t scale effectively to serve a large project management community.
The organization has a rich history in continuous improvement and a desire to optimize the customer experience, but it needed a credible, enterprise-wide framework that would formalize project management capability, raise delivery maturity and prove strategic value to senior leaders. Most importantly, the program needed to be scalable and globally recognized for its value.
Challenge
In highly regulated, global life sciences environments, consistent project management practices are essential to delivering work reliably, at scale.
When teams operate with shared standards, language and expectations, organizations are better positioned to manage risk, meet compliance requirements and deliver outcomes customers can trust.
As Thermo Fisher Scientific continued to grow across divisions and geographies, project professionals relied on different tools, templates and practices. While local teams delivered strong work, the lack of enterprise-wide alignment limited knowledge sharing, created uneven experiences, and made it difficult to scale project management capability consistently across the organization.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has been a leader in global life sciences for 130 years. Within its Pharma Services business, the company has relied upon the expertise and knowledge of over 1,000 project professionals spread across three major divisions. Yet, every business unit naturally used its own language, tools and templates, which ended up creating inconsistent delivery practices and uneven customer experiences.
PMI Partnership & Approach
A Unified Training Ecosystem
Thermo Fisher’s Project Management Community of Practice, led by global transformation leaders like Robert Johnson, Global Senior Training Manager, Project Management, secured PMI ATP status and established an internal training ecosystem anchored in PMI gold-standard content.
After assessing how many employees needed to be trained, and how effectively that training could be delivered by its internal champion, Robert took the initiative to get organizational buy-in to elevate Thermo Fisher to an ATP. The new status meant faster delivery of exam content and effective data around learner milestones and testing.
The PMI ATP Advantage
By becoming a PMI ATP, Thermo Fisher established a centralized, scalable training framework rooted in globally recognized PMI standards. The ATP model provided a consistent foundation to unify project management language, tools and expectations across business groups.
Action & Impact: the PMI ATP Advantage
PMI-Vetted Instructors
Action
Internal practitioners completed the PMI Train-the-Trainer program, earning authorization to deliver official PMP material.
Impact
Created instant credibility with learners and senior stakeholders.
Custom-Fit Curriculum
Action
Trainers integrated PMI courseware with Thermo Fisher workflows (e.g., SmartSheet schedules, drug-development case studies).
Impact
Drove immediate relevance without compromising academic rigor.
Cohort & Mentorship Model
Action
Bootcamps ran virtually and on-site; graduates mentored new cohorts and returned as guest speakers.
Impact
Reinforced peer learning and sustained momentum.
Performance-Management
Tie-In
Action
Learners committed to attempt the PMP exam within six months; goal captured in annual PMD cycle.
Impact
Boosted accountability and exam-take rates.
Community Engagement
Action
“PM Appreciation Week,” newsletters, and PMI chapter events highlighted success stories and thought leadership.
Impact
Elevated the profession’s profile and inspired wider participation.
The Results
- Certification Growth
1.5 years after Thermo Fisher’s ATP launch, >40% bootcamp participants earned the PMP certification with a near-perfect first-time pass rate, with a goal of doubling participation in 2026.
- Cost Efficiency
Internal delivery reduced per‑learner training spend by more than 60% compared to external vendors and eliminated most travel costs.
- Cultural Cohesion
Cross-functional cohorts built a shared vocabulary, improving collaboration among engineering, quality and continuous improvement teams.
- Executive Adoption
Positive learner feedback and early ROI data led corporate leadership to centrally fund annual ATP licensing fees, simplifying access and creating value for the organization.
- Strategic Application
Certified project managers applied risk and stakeholder practices to complex supply-chain initiatives.
Conclusion
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s PMI Authorized Training Partner initiative enabled the organization to move from fragmented project practices to a unified, enterprise-wide approach to project management capability. By pairing globally recognized PMI standards with internal delivery and company-specific workflows, Thermo Fisher reduced training costs, scaled certified talent and established consistent expectations across business groups.
Most importantly, the program demonstrated measurable value to senior leadership, resulting in sustained investment and formal recognition of project management as a strategic enterprise capability.
Ready to replicate Thermo Fisher’s success?
Partner with PMI to embed trusted, customizable project management training in your organization and unleash the full potential of your project talent.