Structured product data management in record time

LaVision has been a developer, producer and distributor of imaging and sensor systems for flow measurement, combustion, spray and particle analysis, and non-contact materials testing since 1989. More than 15 years ago, LaVision already relied on the 3D CAD system Solid Edge, which it also implemented with SST. A gap showed up in LaVision’s professional IT infrastructure with document management (DMS) and ERP system about three years ago: "SST immediately recognized that the product development data was file system-based and managed in a decentralized manner," reports Stefan Mitsch, Division Manager PDM at CAD Partner. "The natural consequence of this is that, for example, the integration of electronics, mechanics and software information, and thus efficient teamwork, is made very difficult." A suitable product data management (PDM) system such as PDM Studio can close this gap. The open, high-performance PDM solution, which focuses on small and medium-sized companies, integrates directly with Solid Edge, but also with other CAD systems such as NX, SolidWorks or Inventor. In addition, the effort for developers in daily use is limited since many routine processes, such as the generation of neutral formats and the forwarding of relevant documents to other departments, run automatically in the background. In this way, all employees such as designers, manufacturers, purchasers and service technicians access identical information and keep track of different versions and revisions of individual components and complex assemblies. Intelligent data synchronization via caching and streaming also keeps the network load low.

Go-live in three months

The understanding of the customer’s way of working gained over the years by the system house SST and the conscientiously carried out preliminary work in cooperation with the experts of CAD Partner contributed to the fact that the implementation project at LaVision could be successfully realized in record time. And this under difficult circumstances: the implementation was carried out entirely in remote workshops and presentations: "The distributed data had to be collected, structured, prepared and migrated by SST’s solution architects and technical consultants at various storage locations. During this process, we provided advice and support," recalls Stefan Mitsch. "The standard interfaces for ERP and DMS integration have been customized to enable efficient work and structured file storage." A dedicated interface now allows all project managers beyond the CAD department to view daily updated product development data. "The seamless connection of our ERP to the new PDM/PLM solution enables continuous processes across departmental boundaries," says Thomas Berg, Managing Director of LaVision GmbH. "We are convinced that with PDM Studio we will achieve structured data storage and a more efficient way of working. We want to use the saved resources for new product developments."

More information can be found at www.pdm-studio.tech/en.