Optical systems manufacturer deploying PLM solution from PTC to improve cross-functional collaboration, improve productivity
Needham, MA — February 27, 2006 — Optical systems manufacturer Thales Optronics is set to use a product lifecycle management (PLM) solution from PTC as part of a program to optimize and streamline product development.
The company, part of the Land & Joint division of Thales UK, the UK's second largest defense contractor, is deploying PTC's Windchill PDMLink in a bid to improve cross-functional and departmental collaboration across all three Optronics sites. The solution will be rolled out to 300 engineers and other cross functional users over an 18-month period, starting in the first quarter of 2006.
According to PTC, the implementation will give the Thales Land & Joint division improved data and document management capabilities. For the first time it will be possible for Thales users to share historic data, 2D drawings and 3D models, test specifications as well as meta-data regarding parts, performance, health and safety.
Windchill PDMLink supports Thales' initiatives by automating tasks that previously required significant time and manual effort, so that Thales employees can focus on higher-value growth-oriented projects, PTC said.
"We're looking to significantly improve our processes using Windchill PDMLink capabilities such as workflow management," said Elaine Goodwillie, PLM project manager of the Land & Joint division of Thales UK. "For example, it traditionally takes an engineer an average of 10 minutes just to look for the right information. Using PTC solutions will help us achieve a 50 percent reduction in search times for relevant information, leading to an immediate and measurable effect on productivity across our product development activities."
Thales UK selected PTC's Windchill as the best fit for its data management requirements. In addition, the Optronics sites in Glasgow, Staines and Bury have been using PTC's Pro/ENGINEER for over 12 years and have since expanded their implementation to incorporate Pro/INTRALINK workgroup data management and ProductView for visualization.
Additional Articles of Interest
— For more information on mid-market companies using product lifecycle management solutions to gain competitive advantage, see "Stuck in the Middle" in the April/May 2004 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— Visibility and product quality are key to maintaining a competitive edge in the market. So how can a company successfully achieve those objectives while also outsourcing its manufacturing? Read "Quality Management in Outsourced Manufacturing," an SDCExec.com In Depth exclusive.
- More articles about PTC.
