Automates the design release process; offers alternative to product lifecycle management
San Rafael, CA — November 8, 2004 — Autodesk Inc., a design software and digital content company, today announced Autodesk Productstream 2 software, which the company said provides customers a path to reuse designs; automate processes; and create, manage and share design data across the manufacturing organization.
Built to extend the value of Autodesk's 3D design software, Inventor Series, the data management solution enables customers to speed design cycles and maintain control of crucial design data as it moves downstream. It is completely modular, and Autodesk said manufacturers have the flexibility to add only the components that make sense for them, and incrementally at a pace that is right for each organization and its budget.
"Autodesk's data management solution addresses the needs of small- to medium-sized manufacturers by delivering many of the same benefits traditionally only available in large PLM installations," said Kevin O'Marah, vice president at AMR Research. "With this solution, engineering departments not only can be more efficient, they can help their companies remain competitive."
Autodesk said this practical approach to data management begins by integrating Autodesk Vault data management tools into all Autodesk manufacturing design software, including Autodesk Inventor Series. Autodesk Vault organizes all design and related data in one centralized location, so that engineering teams can manage work-in-process design data and synchronize efforts among product design and engineering team members.
Autodesk Vault stores all versions of a design and associated data in a single location, so that designers can find, reference and reuse the data in order to accelerate design cycles.
With Vault as its foundation, Productstream 2 then automates the design release process by managing engineering changes and bills of materials (BOMs). Members of the extended team, such as manufacturing, purchasing and sales personnel, can access design data to review and provide feedback, additional requirements and supporting data for designs.
Completing Autodesk's data management solution is the Streamline collaboration service, which the provider said extends the ability to share design information with the entire supply chain and customers worldwide. This allows manufacturers to get feedback early enough to make design changes before they become too costly.
Robert Kross, vice president of the Manufacturing Solutions Division at Autodesk, commented, "The manufacturing process may start with the design, but the real value comes from how our customers use that design data to make smart business decisions downstream — decisions that can mean competitive advantage."
