PLM Perspective
PLM - A Strategy, Not an App
As the term Product Lifecycle Management, or PLM, becomes more widely recognized, more and more software applications that touch only a segment of the entire lifecycle are being introduced as PLM products. The key to realizing full PLM potential, however, is recognizing that PLM is a business initiative, rather than an application or even a set of applications.
PLM is a strategic framework that a wide range of applications like PDM, CAD, ERP and many others support. Certainly enormous strides in innovation and productivity can be made at particular stages of a product's lifecycle through individual applications or processes, and that is an excellent place to start growing toward an enterprise's PLM vision. At UGS PLM Solutions, we are building PLM applications to support not just individual process domains, but also our customers' extended PLM strategies. This approach is based on four basic "pillars" that are the underpinnings of our business. These same pillars serve to guide any business that is building a PLM strategy.
PLM Success
Hendrick Motorsports Speeds the Pace of PLM
If anyone knows the value of competitive advantage, it is Hendrick Motorsports (HMS), an organization that fields four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams and one NASCAR Busch Series team. It has gone to Victory Lane more than 100 times and is the only organization to win a Winston Cup championship in four straight seasons. Long a user of I-deas NX Series technology to improve production, HMS continues to seek new ways to preserve its technology edge. One way HMS plans to lead the technology race involves using Teamcenter to improve access to vehicle information, across its large corporate headquarters as well as when the teams are away at races.
Productivity Rises Dramatically for Reading Bakery Systems
Reading Bakery Systems (RBS) is a supplier of equipment used to produce pretzels, cookies, crackers, biscuits and pet treats. Their worldwide customer base includes such well-known names as Frito-Lay, Nabisco, Keebler and Kellogg's. Although RBS has product families, every system it sells is customized to some extent, creating significant design effort as well as many thousands of manufacturing drawings each year. Deadlines are frequently tight, with penalties for late delivery. In 2003, RBS decided to replace its existing AutoCAD with Solid Edge, and since then has achieved a 63% design productivity gain.
HEWI Reduces Time to Market by an Average of 50%
HEWI designs and builds a wide range of high-quality hardware accessories for living rooms, foyers, bathrooms, closets and stairways, creating scores of innovative new products every year. The company wanted to provide its engineers with advanced modeling tools in order to automate routine tasks and allow them to spend more time on creative engineering. HEWI adopted Unigraphics NX to create solids-based assembly models, eliminating the need for time-consuming individual surface manipulation, and also employs Teamcenter to enable effective collaboration and project management across their facilities. Time savings now range from hours to weeks on individual projects.
Product News
Teamcenter Engineering 9.0 Delivers New Capabilities for Digital Product Development
Last year, UGS PLM Solutions introduced Teamcenter lifecycle domain solutions to address the needs of the key corporate functions throughout the product lifecycle.
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.
Solid Edge Introduces New Integrated Mold Tooling Application
In March, 2003, Solid Edge Version 14 delivered Rapid Blue, a sophisticated and flexible shape creation software, that has proved popular with manufacturers in the consumer products industry. In December 2003, Solid Edge Version 15 extended the capabilities with new functionality specifically for mold design.
Now Solid Edge complements these core capabilities, introducing a new mold tooling option to establish powerful step-by-step process workflow for the design of multi-core, multi-cavity plastic injection molds. The product, which is available to order now, will ship during this quarter. A specially priced promotional package for mold design, which includes Solid Edge Classic, Solid Edge Feature Recognizer, and Solid Edge Mold Tooling is also available through June 30th.
Events & News Releases
Special Events
UGS PLM Solutions Enhances Master Certificate Training Programs
In support of our customers' goals of continuous improvement through education, UGS PLM Solutions Education Services announces additions to its suite of certificate programs focused on the professional development of UGS PLM Solutions application users.
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:
The Master Certificate program is an educational system designed to provide a training plan aligned with areas of expertise. Each certificate program consists of an optimum series of courses designed to develop in-depth knowledge in a specific application. After completing the specified series of courses, each student will receive a special Master Certificate to acknowledge their extensive training and commitment to on-going professional development. Listed below are the currently available Master Certificate programs:
- Master of I-deas NX Series Drafting
- Master of I-deas NX Series Design
- Master of I-deas NX Series Simulation
- Master of Teamcenter Engineering System Support
- Master of Teamcenter Enterprise Customization
- Master of Digital Manufacturing (E-factory)
- Master of Visualization (Teamcenter Visualization)
- Master of Visualization- Dimensional Management (Teamcenter Visualization)
- Master of Unigraphics NX Drafting
- Master of Unigraphics NX Design
- Master of Unigraphics NX Engineering
- Master of Unigraphics NX NC Programming
To gain a Master Certificate, trainees must complete all courses listed in that program. Each course must be offered by UGS PLM Solutions Education Services or an authorized vendor, and taught by a UGS PLM Solutions-certified instructor. There is no additional charge (beyond the program course fees) to receive the Master Certificate, and you may be eligible to receive credit for courses already completed. Contact Education Services for more information on program requirements.
Visit the UGS PLM Solutions Education Services Web site to learn more about these certificate programs and other great training services and savings opportunities, or in North America call 1-800-955-0000 option 4.
New Solid Edge Professional Certification Program Launched
A new Solid Edge Professional Certification Program provides an opportunity for users to test and validate their skills against a documented knowledge base. More information on this program is available here.
PLM World
Join the world's largest community of PLM users at PLM World 2004, May 17-21 in Anaheim, California. The theme this year is "Accelerating Innovation Through PLM," and the program is designed to help you get the most from your UGS PLM Solutions software. Registration is now open. Find out more about this event here.
Solid Edge User Summit Registration is Now Open
The 2003 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.
COFES
Held April 1-4 in Scottsdale Arizona, the Conference on the Future of Engineering Software (COFES) is an annual think tank event which brings executives from design, engineering, architectural, development and technology companies together to understand the role engineering technology will play in the future survival and success of business. More details here.
SAE 2004 World Congress
The SAE World Congress bills itself as THE most comprehensive global automotive engineering technical program. See details here.
UGS PLM Solutions Open House 2004 - Benelux
Find out more here about UGS PLM Solutions Open House events, March 8 in Veldhoven, March 10 in Gent, or March 31 in Marche-en-Famenne.
CeBIT
CeBIT ranks as the world's number one event for the ICT sector. Held from March 18-24, in Hannover, Germany, it offers the opportunity for representatives of business, science, politics and the media to see all the latest trends in a single location.
MICAD
Held March 30 - April 1 in Paris, MICAD is an international exhibition covering CAD/CAM, Tools and Methodologies for Product Design, Manufacturing and Lifecycle Management.
ITEA 2004 Conference
ITEA is America's largest professional educational association, principal voice and information clearinghouse devoted to enhancing technology education. Information on its May 18-20 conference in Albuquerque New Mexico is available here.
WESTEC
WESTEC, the premier North American west coast manufacturing technology exhibition takes place March 22-25 in Los Angeles. You'll find complete details here.
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.
