How Integrated Product Definition Eases Complex Tasks<\/h3>\n
We\u2019ve already looked at some of the ways that a seamlessly Integrated Product Definition can help powertrain engineers, freshwater system designers for cruise ships and heavy machinery engineers. Let\u2019s see how else an Integrated Product Definition can help engineers in other industries.<\/p>\n
The engineer needs to make changes to how the engine attaches to the wing. He has ideas of how this might work best. He needs to run through and solidly analyze each idea to understand each option\u2019s tradeoffs before he makes a recommendation and his group can proceed. He wants to easily collaborate with the group, but he doesn\u2019t want the world to see what he\u2019s working on. He doesn\u2019t want have to create offline sandboxes to privately work on each proposal.<\/p>\n With an Integrated Product Definition, he can take each alternative he\u2019s considering and work it through as a change proposal that may or may not see the light of day beyond his group. He doesn\u2019t have to save a bunch of data in a side sandbox. When he decides he\u2019s ready to review with the broader team or in a design review, he\u2019s able to walk through and clearly show a visual of each alternative to decide which is best and should be incorporated into the product definition.<\/p>\n Release Engineer<\/u>. <\/strong>A release engineer needs to guarantee that the product definition she releases accounts for every product variant. It needs complete parts and geometry with no gaps or interferences. When her manufacturing and execution colleagues plan and order against the Bill of Materials<\/a> as she\u2019s released it, the result should be a buildable, accurate product.<\/p>\n The official BOM for what\u2019s procured and produced ultimately ends up in ERP, but once there, it\u2019s disconnected from the geometry. It should be correct by then, or it could cause costly disruptions to production. She needs to ensure that the BOM is complete with released parts and corresponding geometry for all variants, and has no interferences or missing content.Leveraging an Integrated Product Definition in Teamcenter, she can manage this fully enriched \u201cmaster BOM<\/a>\u201d directly in Teamcenter, ensuring that procurement will happen against a validated and complete BOM.<\/p>\n Production Engineer<\/u>. <\/strong>A production engineer is responsible for production at a specific plant in China.For every unit he produces, he must have the correct visual BOM with all sourcing details and assembly processes specific to his facility. Because of different materials and manufacturing processes available for each plant and local area, there are different levels of end items that are sourced and assembled; there are also different inventory and lead times to consider for each plant. How can he be confident he has the correct information and can control incorporation of product updates for his plant?<\/p>\n The engineer must be certain that when production orders come through the plant, he has the correct parts, tools and process plans to manufacture these products. Parts lists and procedures are helpful, but having the correct geometry available for each step is an immense efficiency and accuracy boost.<\/p>\n By managing plant effectivities and procurement information directly against the engineering parts in Teamcenter, he ensures that when he configures and plans for the plant, an accurate BOM and geometry information are readily available.<\/p>\n Despite the increasingly large and complex products users are managing, withan Integrated Product Definition, they now have a solution and a supported way to work. They aren\u2019t left scratching their heads at their desks or jumping through hoops to accomplish their assignments.<\/p>\n Our users face real problems that anyone familiar with the challenges of producing a world-class product can understand. Anyone who\u2019s tried executing these tasks in the past has probably struggled with limitations on efficiency, accuracy and completeness.<\/p>\n Through our recent and ongoing innovation and investment at Siemens PLM, we\u2019ve reached an inflection point where we have good answers and good tools. The products our users manage are increasingly large, sophisticated and complex. But, our users will be able to use an Integrated Product Definition to complete their tasks while reducing complexity.<\/p>\n An Integrated Product Definition: Driving Innovation<\/a><\/p>\n An Integrated Product Definition for a consistent Bill of Materials<\/a><\/p>\n![\"ipd-aircraft.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2019\/09\/ipd-aircraft-1.jpg\" "\\"ipd-aircraft.jpg\\"")
<\/span>Aircraft Engineer<\/u>. <\/strong>An aircraft engineer considers multiple alternatives to change the engine interface where it attaches to the wing. He hasn\u2019t determined which alternative will work best. Someone from another group is also changing the wing in that same area. How does the engineer clearly communicate his changes only when he\u2019s ready to share them? How can he be sure he\u2019s consistently aware of other proposed changes impacting this area?<\/p>\n![\"ipd-release.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2019\/09\/ipd-release-1.jpg\" "\\"ipd-release.jpg\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\nFinal Thoughts<\/h3>\n