PDM/PLM

Solidworks http://www.solidworks.com is WNA's PLM/PDM application supplied by Fisher/Unitech (Previously SolidVision. Note that Fisher/Unitech is a valled added reseller of Solidworks, which is manufactured by Dessault Systems.

Solidworks is a Product Data Management application used for project and documentation management. This is especially useful for how WNA develops the molds and tools for its product and improves communication between the departments and speed time to market.

The main purpose of using Solidworks is revision control and product lifecycle management. Two previous projects that moved forward with incorrect designs had cost WNA over $210,000 and in one case a setback of 65 days. A secondary concern was centralized storage of the design files.

A major concern of the IT Department regarding the PDM project was bandwidth. Many of the engineering design files are large with a rare few being up to or over a 1 GB. This issue can be reduced with the use of the “Suppress” feature in PRO-E which significantly reduces the size of the file. All the required information is still contained in the smaller file. The suppressed files will then be uploaded. When downloaded from the PDM server the conversion back to the full specs is almost automatic. New Product Development expects to upload a few design jobs a week and does not expect to continuously impact bandwidth. Occasionally a design will be very large, these files will be suppressed and then uploaded after normal working hours.

Currently the end user who sets up the product to be made will utilize a much smaller PDF file and not the PRO-E design files.

Some of the largest design files come from the vendors in the form of STP files. Files under 10 MB are normally transferred via email and larger files are transferred using YouSendIt. The STP is then imported into PRO-E where they are reduced significantly.

There is a possibility that the QA Spec database may be rolled into PDM later. Even if it is not, the new Spec database is expected to be utilized by all WNA sites. This will increase bandwidth usage.

Another consideration, SolidVision stated that a second server could be set up in Covington. This would add another server to the cost and increase bandwidth to support replication of the SQL database. There would be an additional need for SQL replication software.

Additional information

• Subsequently found that Solidworks was not compatible with Pro/E drawings although it is still possible to insert files in to the PDM sofware alongside PDR's and Excel, etc. (It is just that these drawings cannot be opened)--Life's Little Ironies (talk) 09:14, 26 October 2012 (EDT)
• Currently not implemented anywhere except Chelmsford, MA --Life's Little Ironies (talk) 09:14, 26 October 2012 (EDT)
• Con call to discuss increase in support costs from $19.6 to $25k. Upon inquiry reduced back down to $19.6k for 2013. --Life's Little Ironies (talk) 15:13, 30 November 2012 (EST)

• Date 2009