Beyond 3D; Part2  “Managing the 3D Corporate Assets”
By Robert A. Konczal, Chief Technical Officer, CATI
 

As discussed last month in Beyond 3D part 1, in order to realize the maximum ROI from your SolidWorks investment, the entire corporation needs to access this data—easily yet securely!    Sounds like a pipedream—huh?  Well, consider this as your next step in reaching “3d Nirvana” or more appropriately stated as a future quote of your CEO, “Our Engineering Department is our Strategic Weapon at ABC, Inc.”!  Being the highlight of a customer facility tour is not what I am referencing.  The annual earnings press conference or board of director meeting is more like it.   The topic for this article is focused on what all organizations need to consider sooner than later—managing the corporate assets—Product Data Management tools (PDM).

Far and few between have ever seriously considered the addition of PDM to their toolkit.  In the past, there were many valid reasons to justify this decision.  However, I suggest you revisit your position and current tools before you throw any “cold water” on the thought.  Due to SolidWork’s success, there have been significant improvements to the PDM software tools to meet the “mainstream” market needs.  The evolution of PDM has yielded user-friendly, economic, powerful tools to meet the workgroup and enterprise level requirements.  It also has become a requirement for software certification to comply with the FDA.   PDM tools are key to turning your department data into corporate assets!

PDM in a nutshell.  PDM will empower anybody that needs to access data whether it is CAD files, Word docs, Excel Wookbooks, digital pictures, Legacy CAD files, historic information, etc. anytime they want it—with proper security.  It would be appropriate to look at PDM as your “Automated Police Officer” for all of your Corporate Data Assests—NOT just CAD files!  Unfortunately, currently in most organizations without PDM, this is usually handled with processes and procedures that have infinite loopholes.  Remember the last time you needed something from someone that was on vacation, was sick or left the company? Good--and for now, we’ll stick with the nutshell explanation and return to more benefits later.

Depending on your needs for implementing PDM, you will typically have one of two choices after all is said and done: Workgroup or Enterprise PDM. Workgroup PDM is simple and can be implemented in a couple of days.  You can also graduate to Enterprise when your needs require it.  Many factors can drive your selection but don’t worry CATI’s subsidiary InFlow, LLC can work with you to determine the best track towards success.  See their website at www.inflow-tech.com.    

Is your perception of PDM that it is only for the elite, large user base, or heavily funded companies?  If so, I will disagree with you and suggest you reconsider investigating PDM.  As you continue to build electronic data you are probably organized as an individual however, most company do not mandate a specific organizational structure.  If they do, it is usually not policed.  The data is as good as its weakest link!  With one file out of revision or one missing for a project we all know what series of “fire drills” this can set into play.  Next time you are sent off on this journey, count the time it required you to find the right data—if you can find it at all!  Then think about the role change to administrator to engineer and so on—oh the memories give me goosebumps.    

For SolidWorks users, the benefits extend your ability to design faster and more accurately.  For example, when it comes to looking for a specific part, you can search and find with quick-viewing capabilities with all specifications at your fingertips—with PDM.   In drawing mode you can eliminate double entry from titleblock and file properties bi-directionally with PDM --i.e. revision number is updated in all locations automatically.   When working on SolidWorks with networked data, PDM improves SW performance. By automatically bringing the files local to your computer and placing them back on the network in their proper locations when you are done!  This eliminates network traffic, “spaghetti” referencing, and increases your overall speed of SolidWorks!    These are just a few generic examples—I am sure you have plenty scenarios in which PDM will likely have a solution.

Everyday you become more productive using new software like SolidWorks, you become faster at what you do and therefore you are creating files--faster than ever. These files need to be maintained, revised, reused, protected, shared, viewed, referenced, all adding up to a life-cycle scenario.  Maintaining the life-cycle of a project can be a fulltime job just managing the files.  The project is also needed by many others in the organization therefore there needs to be a common entry point--your PDM tool.  PDM properly implemented—everybody can access the Corporate Assets--all without losing any sleep and adding engineering overhead!

With the commitment towards making PDM a reality in your organization the next steps can be investigated to go Beyond 3D!  However, until PDM is considered there are many roadblocks in your way.  As stated earlier, Inflow, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CATI, is ready and welcome to discuss your needs and goals.  Inflow was founded for this reason and it is their sole purpose—Focused on making your Information Flow!

Next Month, Beyond 3D;Part 3 Without a plan how do you know how successful you are? A look at the process of implementing and sharpening the 3D corporate strategic weapons.