Figure 1: Product Data Management Framework
Sharing extends the value of CAD data and collaboration beyond Engineering and the company. Sharing CAD outside of the firewall extends the value of “right first time” and improved quality beyond internal feedback to incorporate partners, suppliers, and customers. It also provides information for others to get started earlier on their own work without having to wait. Sharing includes CAD files, but also bid documents, spec sheets, and other commercial information.
Emailing is a sure way to create duplicate files and open up the opportunity for errors.
Of course it’s critical to ensure information is under control so companies share the right, most up-to-date information. “Before there was a lot of email back and forth because we have two to three consulting companies at any time,” says Andy Homyk of HemoSonics. “We would email bits of assemblies and then sometimes have to send previous assemblies.” Emailing is a sure way to create duplicate files and open up the opportunity for errors. Solutions that provide external links versus duplicates prevent this problem. “One of the main benefits of our CAD management solution is that we don’t have to triple-check if we have the right revision,” says HemoSonics’ Higgins. “It gives you confidence and you aren’t crossing your fingers.”
One of the main benefits of our CAD management solution is that we don’t have to triple-check if we have the right revision. It gives you confidence. Tim Higgins, Mechanical Engineer, HemoSonics
Suppliers, prototype shops, contract manufacturers, and design partners should only have selective access to ensure they only see what they should. They should always get the latest released version and not have access to more information than they need. Beyond partners, sharing with customers has even greater benefits. More customer involvement leads to better results and a more committed customer. As with internal resources, they require easy access because it’s not realistic for most to ask for VPN, firewalls, or other IT help or they system will be worked around.
The key requirements to support the Share sub-process are:
• Ease of Sharing – quickly establishing access to a site for external parties such as suppliers, customers, and design partners
• Selective Sharing – sharing different information with various partners
• Markups and Feedback – capturing external feedback and input, storing this with the design
• Sharing by Reference – provides links to master data so files are not duplicated
• Sharing in Neutral Formats – provide access in industry standard formats including IGES, STEP, and JT for other engineers to utilize
Beyond sharing via the web, more advanced solutions provide the ability to share CAD data in multiple ways. As an example, “When I give a presentation I can just pull up a design and spin it around in a browser, it’s a pretty huge benefit,” says Andy Homyk of HemoSonics. It’s also more efficient. “Before I relied on screenshots and put them in PowerPoint, it took a lot of man-hours,” he adds.
When I give a presentation I can just pull up a design and spin it around in a browser, it’s a pretty huge benefit. Andy Homyk, Lead Mechanical Engineer, HemoSonics
Another “beyond the basics” benefit of more modern applications is mobile device access. As Tech-Clarity’s PLM Goes Mobile finds, “Mobile devices like the iPad have set the stage to extend the opportunity for engineers and others in the product lifecycle to contribute, decide, act, and innovate.” But Enabling Mobile PLM cautions that effective mobile applications are fundamentally different then those designed for large screens, so it’s not as simple as making a desktop application available on a mobile device. “Everyone is hooked up to our mobile app,” offers HemoSonics’ Tim Higgins. “Our CEO and CTO regularly go out and show the product on their cell phones. They pull up a model and spin it around. It’s impressive.”
For more information on sharing CAD files using management software download the rest of Jim Brown’s white paper.