PLM Perspective – June 2004
PLM and Six Sigma: Complementary Strategies for Success
Frequently in my discussions with clients, I get questions about PLM tools for Six Sigma. It’s an intriguing topic that I want explore further this month.
But first a brief update on UGS. As you have probably seen, the largest-ever private equity investment in a technology company is now complete and UGS is moving forward as an independent company in partnership with our new financial sponsors, Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners and Warburg Pincus. It’s an event that analysts are hailing as a strong endorsement of both our strategy and the growth potential of the PLM market. Needless to say it is an exciting time for us. We believe our new status will enable us to more fully deliver on our vision of working collaboratively with our clients to create enterprise solutions that enable them to transform their process of innovation and begin to capture the value of PLM. I look forward to sharing our progress with you in the months to come.
When we talk about the value of PLM, there are many aspects to explore. One value that clients look for is the opportunity to improve quality – both of products and processes. That’s the goal of Six Sigma as well, but how do they fit together? No matter how you look at it Six Sigma and PLM have strong ties to one another. Each can – and does – enable the other and the common goal for both is business transformation.
User Groups on the Rise
Increasing Market Awareness of PLM Value Fuels the Trend
At the recent PLM World conference, in Anaheim California, an all-time high attendance of 1,674 broke last year’s record attendance by 9.6%. Asia Pacific user conferences in the second half of 2003 drew over 4,500 attendees and a recent China conference drew 900. European conferences are attracting thousands more. As more companies of all sizes and industries begin to understand the potential in product lifecycle management, the momentum for PLM deployment and expansion continues to rise. User groups and industry steering committees are playing a big part in this market expansion and UGS is committed to working with these teams to ensure its software product development aligns with clients’ emerging market needs.
NX Drives Significant Improvements in Industrial Design
Formation Design Group Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, is a product design and development group that handles everything from small handheld devices to large vehicles. Formation implemented NX (and NX Shape Studio) as its primary industrial design (ID) system. The integrated solution enables Formation to seamlessly move from the initial concept to more detailed phases of design. Read more about how Formation was able to deliver a pallet truck design to client Crown Equipment Corporation 50 percent faster than with traditional ID software.
One of Formation’s clients is Crown Equipment Corporation, a leading manufacturer of pallet trucks and other material handling equipment. Crown engaged Formation to update a pallet truck with a new look and enhanced operator environment. Using NX solutions, Formation was able to provide CAD data that could quickly move to downstream applications; and, with the integrated NX approach, they delivered the design 50 percent faster than with traditional ID software.
"In this economic climate – one in which companies are pushing hard to get the most for their money – our use of NX and NX Shape Studio is a big selling point.," said Phil Palermo, partner, Industrial Design, Formation Design Group, Inc. "It lets us deliver a design that our clients can immediately take to the next step."
NX – Design for Six Sigma
For the majority of manufacturing organizations, long-term success is tied directly to the new product development process. And, to take that a step further, understanding what aspects of a product are of explicit interest to the customer should translate into the specifications that drive new product development. Customers want value. However, they also want quality. And, let’s not forget innovation – customers are rarely happy with a me-too product. They want customization and unique characteristics.
Understanding, and more importantly applying, these customer "desires" into a product development process can provide a key way to ensure product success. This is the key to Design for Six Sigma (DFSS).
GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) uses an Intelligent Master Model and related tools and methods approach for streamlining the new product introduction process. As a foundation of GEAE’s product development philosophy, they have extended Six Sigma beyond the manufacturing realm into product design. The methodology of Design for Six Sigma – including Design for Reliability and Design for Producibility, reduces variation in the design and manufacture of new products. GEAE uses UGS solutions – including NX and Teamcenter – in support of its DFSS initiatives. GEAE’s approach is detailed in a recent report – The Intelligent Master model Process for Achieving Functional Design – issued by Collaborative Product Development Associates, LLC.
Teamcenter Visualization: A "View" Into Your Product’s Lifecycle
The lifecycle of a product goes through many phases, all of which have been traditionally difficult to visualize. Throw in the complexities of multiple tiers of suppliers and software programs that utilize disparate file formats and it’s a monumental task to get a new product out the door. UGS’ Teamcenter Visualization bridges the gaps in a company’s product development processes, creating a unified digital thread of design data, regardless of who needs it or what they need to do with it.
Ford’s C3P Next Generation Initiative – Information for Ford Suppliers
Transitioning Ford suppliers to the next level of digital product development"
As Ford Motor Company establishes the Next Generation of its CAD/CAM/CAE/PIM initiative (C3P-NG), it is partnering with UGS to provide suppliers with a series of software and services leveraged by Ford to achieve their Product Development improvements.
E-factory Global Symposium
The second annual E-factory global symposium will be held June 16-17 at the Conference & Event Center in Dearborn, Michigan. The conference includes user presentations, technical demonstrations and a special track for executives on implementing Digital Manufacturing as an enterprise strategy.
E-factory "Wide Open" Webinars
This series of weekly webinars provide an opportunity to learn about the capabilities of the E-factory portfolio of products.
DMS (Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo / Conference) 2004
UGS will participate in DMS in Tokyo, Japan on June 16-18.
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.
More Information for Technical Users
Many UGS technology users like to receive technical tips and in-depth product information in addition to business and strategy news. If this information is of interest to you, you have a current maintenance contract and you have not yet subscribed to our technical newsletter, GTAC Quarterly, you can find out more.
Transaction supports UGS growth strategy, reaffirms leadership in promoting industry standards and open solutions Company introduces "PLM Components" product family as part of overarching PLM Open business model
Program Brings the World’s Largest PLM User Community Together to Explore How PLM Software Tools Increase Innovation, Collaboration, Productivity: Attendance at Regional UGS User Conferences also Growing
UGS Launches Solid Edge Version 16
"Design with Insight" Vision Eases the Design of Complex Products
Renault Chooses Teamcenter To Meet Knowledge Management And Collaboration Requirements Of New Mechatronics Initiatives
UGS Launches Operation as Independent Company
Purchase by Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners and Warburg Pincus Is Completed; Represents Largest Private Equity Investment Ever Made in a Technology Company. Company Shortens Brand to UGS; Debuts Independent www.ugs.com Web site
At-Risk Youth and Displaced Workers are Benefactors of Unique Partnership to Provide Technology Career Opportunities
Consolidated Program Combines More Than 300 business Partners Worldwide Under a Common Unified Structure to Expand Partner Opportunities and Deliver More Robust PLM Solutions to the Market
Synapsis Combines Industry-Focused Software And Services With UGS’ Teamcenter Portfolio To Enhance Client Productivity Throughout North America
Crown UCP Selects Solid Edge From UGS PLM Solutions For Innovative Bottle Design
Advanced Shape Creation Technology Meets Design Needs For Company’s Consumer Product Focus
Link-Belt Selects Solid Edge From UGS PLM Solutions For Computer Aided Design of Mobile Cranes
Market-Driven Demands For Faster Design of New Telescopic and Lattice Cranes At Lower Costs Cited In Decision To Change Computer-Aided Design (CAD) System
UGS PLM Solutions, Inc. Announces Expected Offering of Debt Securities
$8.9 Million Grant Expands Career Opportunities For Students By Providing Product Development and Management Tools Widely Used In Industry
UGS Finalizes Spin-off (Line 56)
Nailing the Design Before You Build (Business Week)
A New Frontier in Product Design (CIO)
I-DEAS 11 NX Series Moves Closer to Merged NX Product (Engineering Automation Report)
A Tune Up at Jaguar (Design News)
Auto-Parts Makers Open Their Networks (InformationWeek)
