PLM Perspective
PLM Perspective - New Doors Opening for UGS PLM Solutions, PLM Industry
As many of you are aware, UGS PLM Solutions recognized an important and exciting milestone for the company and our clients when, on March 14, we announced EDS' agreement to sell 100 percent of UGS PLM Solutions to a private equity group of Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners and Warburg Pincus for $2.05 billion in cash.
This is an event we have been anticipating as EDS continues to focus on its core IT outsourcing services business. We believe the transaction - which represents the largest private equity investment ever made in a technology company -- is a very positive move that validates UGS PLM Solutions' strategy and leadership position in the PLM market, while positioning our company for future growth. Industry analysts have overwhelmingly applauded the move as well, saying it will not only enable UGS PLM Solutions to further improve our flexibility and execution, but also that the investment represents an endorsement of the potential of PLM as a rising technology.
PLM Success
B/E Aerospace Supports its Lean Design Approach with NX Technology
B/E Aerospace Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of cabin interior products for commercial passenger aircraft and business jets. They were spending up to two days per week translating product data between the conceptual design and engineering design functions - an imperfect process that typically required creation of data and resulted in loss of design intent. After adopting a single technology platform (NX) for both functions, the company established a process free of data translation that eliminated data repair and enabled the conceptual design and engineering to proceed concurrently. This lean design approach was employed on a lie-flat first class seat order for Japan Airlines (JAL). The project challenge was how to pack the many internal components of the seat into an extremely tight space, requiring very close collaboration between the industrial designers and the engineers. Not only did NX enable the company to reduce waste in their product development process, the solution allowed B/E Aerospace to produce an award-winning innovative design.
"Turnkey" Race Car Turns Heads in Daytona
Top-of-the-line design technology is commonplace around the facilities of Formula 1 and NASCAR teams, but in the garages of smaller teams the use of CAD, CAM and CAE is rarer. Recently, however, Indianapolis based engineering firm Fin-el teamed up with race car manufacturer FABCAR on a project that may change all that. When the Grand Am organization wanted to take sports car racing in a new direction, these two companies worked together to create the new Grand Am Daytona Prototype. One unusual aspect of this project is that the entire vehicle, including composite body surfaces was modeled in Solid Edge by auto racing veterans who wouldn't normally turn to high tech.
WITTENSTEIN AG Honored Again
One year ago alpha getriebebau GmbH, a subsidiary of UGS PLM Solutions client WITTENSTEIN AG, was honored as the most innovative company of the "Top 100" medium-sized companies in Germany. This year WITTENSTEIN AG was recognized again as "Top Employer of the Year" under the middle-sized manufacturing businesses in Germany's prestigious "TOP JOB" competition.
Products developed, produced and distributed by WITTENSTEIN include highly precise planetary gears, complete electromechanical drive systems and AC booster systems and motors. The products are implemented in such areas as robots and machine tools, packing, conveyor systems and process technology, paper and printing machines, medical technology, and the aerospace industry. All seven business units of WITTENSTEIN AG rely on Unigraphics NX to support their strategy of reducing costs, shortening delivery time and improving quality.
UGS PLM Solutions congratulates WITTENSTEIN on this significant recognition!
Product News
Teamcenter In-Service Delivers Total Asset Visibility to the Point of Service
Last year, UGS PLM Solutions launched its strategy for Teamcenter solutions to span the major domains of the product lifecycle. This month, UGS PLM Solutions is showcasing the latest Teamcenter solution for the in-service/support domain of the product lifecycle: Teamcenter In-Service.
Teamcenter In-Service allows OEMs to maximize the visibility of the operational side of the product lifecycle and owner/operators to optimize the value of their operational assets. Teamcenter In-Service provides service teams with a single source of knowledge that they can use to rapidly access the most recently available product information and accelerate the service process.
NX + Lean Design = Transformations in Product Development
Product development drives business growth but at the same time, it is expensive. The industry average is one product success for every three thousand ideas. Business methodologies - such as lean manufacturing/lean design and Six Sigma - when applied primarily to manufacturing operations have proven that it is possible to achieve dramatic improvements in cost, quality, and time by focusing on process performance. NX technologies uniquely support Lean Design initiatives, helping companies reduce delays, maximize design re-use, reduce defects, and improve process efficiency through a number of enabling capabilities, such as:
- A managed development environment
- A unified solution that addresses all phases of product development, from concept through manufacturing
- Knowledge driven automation
- Simulation, validation and optimization
- System-based modeling
Symptomatic signs that should signal a company to investigate their tools and processes include these key areas of waste in product development:
- Process delays (time lost finding information or waiting for test results and feedback; or unnecessary documents and/or physical prototypes)
- Design re-use (learning from past design experiences; reducing unnecessary features; designs never used, completed or delivered)
- Defects (poor designs; reduction in warranty issues)
To learn more about how NX can help facilitate your company's Lean initiatives, read a Lean Design white paper here.
Events
Special Events
The Road to the Future Webinar
On March 10 th, UGS PLM Solutions and HP sponsored a webinar titled "The Road to the Future." This event discussed 32 vs. 64 bit computing, how things have changed and how they will change in the future. The host was HP's Jim Zafarana, Vice President of Worldwide Workstation Marketing. A replay of this webinar is now available on demand so you can access it at your convenience. You will find it at www.hpbroadband.com keyword: 64bitUGS.
Teamcenter Enterprise 4.0 Training Solutions Available in April
UGS PLM Solutions announces the April availability of the following Teamcenter Enterprise 4.0 training solutions:
Instructor-led
- PKM222- Product Data Management Administration
- PKM240- Installation and Administration
- PKM360- Customization I
- PKM470- Customization II
- TMC501- Client-Side Customization
- TMC602- Server-Side Customization
Self-paced (Learning Advantage)
- Parts and Document Management
- Change Processes
- ing Teamcenter CPG
Please visit the UGS PLM Solutions Education Services Web site to learn more about these and other PLM learning solutions, or contact us directly at 1-800-955-0000, option 4.
UGS PLM Solutions Education Services Providing 45 Free Training Sessions at PLM World 2004
Don't wait to register for attendance at this year's PLM World Conference in Anaheim , CA May 17-21. Continuing the tradition of providing tremendous educational value to attendees of this conference, UGS PLM Solutions Education Services will once again be providing attendees with dozens of free training sessions, with topics including Unigraphics NX, I-deas NX, and Teamcenter.
We'll also be hosting the Family Movie Night on Sunday evening once again, providing a free night of family-oriented entertainment and snacks. This year's feature will be Secondhand Lions, starring Michael Caine, Robert Duval and Haley Joel Osment (Rated PG). For more information on this conference and all of the scheduled activities and learning opportunities, visit the conference Web site at event.plmworld.org.
China Users Conference to Convene in Shanghai
This year's China Users Conference will be held in Shanghai, China on May 27th and 28th. The conference begins with general sessions featuring the UGS PLM Solutions executive team at Shanghai Center on the morning of May 27th. Following lunch, the venue will move to the Shanghai Exhibition Center for breakout sessions. Afternoon sessions on May 27th will focus on product information and morning sessions on May 28th will target specific industries. Please visit www.ugsplm.com.cn/ for further information.
Asia Pacific PLM Excellence Award (Deadline for Submissions - April 15, 2004)
UGS PLM Solutions' Asia Pacific region is soliciting papers for its first Asia Pacific PLM Excellence Award.
Participation in the PLM Excellence Award offers your company widespread exposure through marketing activities on a global scale. Winners will be recognized for their achievement and invited to present their success at PLM World 2005. Participation is open to active commercial clients of UGS PLM Solutions in the Asia Pacific region. Government organizations, political parties, public international organizations including officials, employees, representatives or candidates of any of the foregoing are not eligible.
Solid Edge User Summit Registration is Now Open
The 2004 Solid Edge User Summit, titled "Mastering the Edge," will take place in Orlando Florida , June 2-4. This year's event will include educational workshops, expanded hands-on training, new tips and techniques, user presentations, business sessions, Voyager Partner booths, development roundtables, keynotes, social events and the chance to share experiences with hundreds of fellow Solid Edge users. Registration, through a secure online site, is now open. You'll find all the details on registration, hotels and a call for presentations here. The site will be continually updated as details of the agenda are added.
Southern New England Design and Engineering '04 - April 14-15 in Hartford Connecticut
Infotec '04 - April 20-22 in Omaha Nebraska
MRO '04 - Sponsored by Aviation Week. April 20-22 in Atlanta George
More Events
For a full list of local events where you can see UGS in action, check our online list of seminars and trade shows for events in your area.
