When the PLM developer Dassault Systèmes bought Apriso ten years ago, the goal was to integrate this software with its software module for digital manufacturing, DELMIA. Among the key pieces of this integration was the promise of being able to connect the design-to-build and manufacturing-to-improvement cycles with the PLM and manufacturing operations management (MOM) combination, the latter being seen as Apriso's strength. Manufacturing execution system (MES) solutions already existed in DELMIA.
This integration is now complete and has been renamed DELMIA Apriso. It is the subject of an evaluation in analyst Gartner's latest Magic Quadrant for MES. Despite its obvious strengths, it has been placed outside the Leader Quadrant and is instead positioned in the “Challengers” quadrant. Nevertheless, the solution is considered by Gartner to be, "well-regarded for its high level of configurability across discrete manufacturing and batch/repetitive flow manufacturing disciplines."
But there is more to unpack for Dassault Systèmes. In the third of my articles on Gartner's MES quadrant from April 2023, we will look a little closer at the strengths and weaknesses of Dassault Systèmes’ MES capabilities.
In the two previous articles, I looked at Siemens Digital Industries' solution, which tops the three big PLM developers with its Opcenter Execution suite—which is placed in the Leaders Quadrant. And Rockwell Automation's Factory Talk/Plex software which is also given a position with the Leaders, and is strongly tied to PTC's PLM portfolio.
Bernard Charles' Quest for a Holistic Platform
In Dassault Systèmes' PLM suite, 3DEXPERIENCE, DELMIA is the app that relates to the manufacturing pieces within the overall product development aspect of the platform. Other apps include ENOVIA (cPDm/PDM), CATIA (CAD), SIMULIA (CAE) and more. When purchasing Apriso in 2013, CEO Bernard Charles wanted to strengthen the platform by adding MOM capabilities.
Here it becomes clear once again that among the big three in PLM—Dassault Systèmes, Siemens and PTC—product realization is seen in a holistic perspective. In short, PLM and smart manufacturing automation belong together and in a perfect production world there are no barriers, only rationality with the goal of seamlessly linking the processes with connected digital tools. And that’s where Bernard wanted the platform to go. To better understand this objective, we will start by briefly reviewing what MES is and what distinguishes MES and MOM.
Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) are two related systems within the manufacturing field. The main difference between the systems is really what they cover. MES is directly connected to the factory floor with the primary purpose being to use data to monitor, manage and optimize the manufacturing processes.
MOM is a set of standards designed by the International Society of Automation (ISA) used to make accurate comparisons of production rates at different locations. But MOM also consists of systems that contain or can contain solutions for production control and quality control. Even material handling is included within the meaning of the term, as well as logistical problems such as platform security and personnel scheduling.
Gartner’s definition of MES comes close to encapsulating all this: “a specialist class of production-oriented software that manages, monitors and synchronizes the execution of real-time physical processes involved in transforming raw materials into intermediate and/or finished goods.”
Gartner’s View of Dassault Systèmes’ MES Capabilities?
First of all, Dassault Systèmes’ position as a “challenger” in the latest MES quadrant should be noted. Its MES offering of DELMIA Apriso is focused on companies with requirements for a highly configurable MES environment. This is an obvious strength, even if the analyst believes that it is complex. However, this changed with the recent launch and release of 3DEXPERIENCE Production Execution, which is a cloud and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) MES offering that is as effective as DELMIA Apriso, but less agile in configurability.
It is further noted that Dassault Systèmes has another MES variant, DELMIAWorks, which is an ERP/MES combination focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs). Everything focuses on discrete and repetitive flow/batch manufacturing.
As for Dassault Systèmes’ product development work, it continues to update “DELMIA Apriso to support Dassault’s ‘Virtual Twin’ strategy across its application disciplines (CAD, PLM, simulation, MOM, supply chain and field service). Its operations are global, and clients are located predominantly in EMEA, North America and Asia/Pacific.”
But what are the strengths of the solution? Gartner points out that, in terms of market, Dassault Systèmes works hard, purposefully and with dedication to the MES area. In this context, there is good name recognition that they can ride on, and DELMIA Apriso also has market acceptance. “This is evidenced by its performance in many MES selection processes Gartner has assisted with and the relatively large number of 'go-lives' reported to us during our Magic Quadrant review,” Gartner writes.
Above I have discussed DELMIA Apriso's strength in terms of configurability in discrete manufacturing and batch/repetitive flow manufacturing, which allows extensive adaptability. Here, Gartner further points out that, “the addition of Production Execution offers clients an MES environment without the complexity (and price) of DELMIA Apriso. This will allow Dassault to provide a segmented approach to enterprise customers that have both large, complex plants, and smaller sites that do not need the same level of complexity in their MES solution.”
In terms of market strategy, Dassault Systèmes has worked on providing developed MOM capacity to global manufacturers that use the company's 3DEXPERIENCE platform. This includes “supply chain scheduling and warehouse management, and integration to its engineering solutions (CAD/computer-aided manufacturing [CAM] and PLM), and augmented reality support via Diota, which was acquired by Dassault and has been integrated with DELMIA Apriso.”
Ending Up Outside the Leader Quadrant
As to why Dassault Systèmes’ DELMIA Apriso has landed outside the Leader Quadrant, Gartner’s warnings can provide some essential explanations. What do these warnings look like?
- Regarding innovation, it is believed that the Dassault Systèmes’ product team must sharpen the architecture. “It is imperative that the DELMIA Apriso product team continues to evolve the architecture of its on-premises, highly configurable to keep pace with the newest technology trends, or it risks falling behind the pace of the market.”
- Pricing and the sales model are another piece. “Gartner clients have reported that DELMIA Apriso’s resource-based licensing model limits expansion and deployment in further facilities. Dassault has stated its new 3DEXPERIENCE cloud roles will follow the standard 3DEXPERIENCE named user licensing model. However, DELMIA Apriso will continue with the current licensing model for on-premises or a cloud provider of the customers’ choice.”
- The final caveat is about Dassault Systèmes’ implementation strategy. “The strategy shared with Gartner included both a continuation of user roles, and a ‘Composable App Framework.’ Its interpretation of composability is effectively a configurable BPM tool. It differs from Gartner’s composability definition, as it is not granular enough and does not include an open/public marketplace.”