Build on a Foundation of Solution Modules

Build-to-Order (BTO) and Engineer-to-Order (ETO) manufacturers share a common thread of operational activities starting with the quoting phase at one end of the spectrum and extending out to potentially maintenance, repair and operations (MRO).  In between, there’s project management, engineering, procurement and supplier management, and manufacturing.  Explore the various solutions here that enable BTO/ETO manufacturers to secure a foothold in their digital transformation journey. 

vdR’s BTO/ETO solution modules are powered by the leading low-code, flexible, and enterprise-ready product lifecycle management (PLM) platform, Aras Innovator.  These solution modules all share common product data.  Starting with any one of the solutions modules sets the groundwork for subsequent modules.  Hence, data and processes are inherently shared.

• Quote Management

• Project Management

• Tool Management

• ERP Integration

• Customer Part Number Management

• Supplier/Vendor Portal

• Procurement Management

• Inventory Management

• Regulatory Compliance

• Other Modules

The Quoting Module helps organization’s accelerate the quotation process while reducing errors and enhancing post-sale data reuse. Weather it’s a new quote or a complex change against an active project, the Quoting Module uses repeatable workflows to ensure the required input and signoffs are captured along the process. Moreover, stockholders have real time visibility into the quote status and information they need. This ‘single source of truth’ approach ensures people no longer need to rely on emails and excel.

This module uses predefined, yet flexible, project templates powered by workflows to streamline projects. Once initiated, a workflow assigns deliverables by activity to team members responsible for providing data, signatures, and comments.  The project manager receives the auto populated project package form and can sign off and forward for review.  This package includes all comments, open items, and risks associated with the project while also providing a dashboard for the stakeholders.

Feature Highlights

Once a tool has been sourced, you rely on the tooling engineer to track, support, and work with the supplier through changes and track the tool to production.  This includes several responsibilities related to meeting run-at-rate, craftsmanship, dimensional stability, and tool set-up, along with a weekly timing report for PPAP and still stay within budget.  We have a solution to provide visibility of the progress and provide tool data for the entire launch team and plant.  The tool can be searched by P/N, Tool Number, or customer asset tag number.

Feature Highlights

• Tool budget information along with change management for easy tracking of tooling costs, PO’s, customer changes, contact information, and tool cost

• Tool tracking via asset tag number, tool number, or part number, and have relationships to search for location of tool during production or service

• Tool information can be easily tracked such as capacity, run-at-rate information, tool set-up for PPAP, part dimensional data, and pictures of part, and tool for payment

• Track tool movement from tool maker to supplier or service, utilize OEM processes for tool move approval with workflows, always know the location of your tools

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions represent the transactional environment supporting the purchasing, scheduling, manufacturing, and delivery of products ordered.  Having accurate and up-to-date part and BOM data and supporting documentation is critical to meeting schedules, reducing the cost of quality, and achieving margin goals.  vdR’s Nexus enterprise connectivity platform enables a seamless connection between PLM and various ERP solutions.  Nexus’ unique architecture simplifies integrations that results in shorter implementations, minimal maintenance and support, and a lower cost of total ownership

Feature Highlights

• Automated parts and/or BOMs release based on an event trigger embedded within a change process and transparent to end users

• On-Demand release of parts that allows selected users to push unreleased part data to support long lead ordering requirements

• Automated document release similar to the automated parts/BOM release process, but in this case, pushes out released files such as 3D PDF, or images

• Federation of part data that dynamically retrieves ERP data such as inventory levels, outstanding purchase orders, associated routings, etc., and returns the requested data for informational purposes only

• Custom transaction templates are the basis for the above transactions and can be customized and tailored

• Transaction history is automatically captured and can be accessed to show transaction type, time, end point characteristics and status

• Notifications can be activated on any stage in a transaction, including error conditions, and recovery attempts

For BTO/ETO manufacturers, it is not uncommon for customers to assign their part and/or product numbers they expect the manufacturer to track.  These numbers map into the order that will include a combination of custom parts, existing parts and manufacturer parts.  During the course of the engineering, manufacturing, and post deliver/support phases, changes will invariably occur.  These changes can be brought about by customer requests, waivers and deviations, in-field issues, and changes to parts used across other parts/products.  As these changes occur, it is critical to understand the relationships, impact, and disposition/resolution approach to ensure the quality expectations of the customer.

Feature Highlights

• Create a unique, Customer Part Number for any product

• Ability to change customer number any time and retain history and relationships

• Support multiple customer part numbers associated to a part/product

• Find products easily by searching for your Customer Part Numbers

The Supplier Portal Module is a next-generation solution to submit vendor requests, manage the bilateral transfer of data and files, and track the status of these interactions. A unified activity dashboard helps accelerate your team’s ability to make procurement decisions while minimizing cost and boosting quality. Connectivity to the Supplier Management module ensures portal participation is always subject to a suppliers’ approved vendor status and their assigned user permissions.

Feature Highlights

• RFQ creation templates for program information, CAD drawings, and response documents

• Dashboards for internal and external participants based on request status and impact on related business items such as quote or program

• Notifications for internal and external participants triggered by predefined activities in the workflow

• Audit trail of when data is accessed and/or submitted with time stamps and user information

The procurement management module provides a complete view into your supplier network and visibility into business items related to each supplier such as quotes and supplier portal transactions. Supplier profiles let you track critical data such as NDAs and Certifications such ISO/IATF, minority status, contact information, quality scorecard and other compliance information. Moreover, a notification system automatically alerts suppliers of missing documentation or soon-to-expire certifications, saving you and your team hours of manual labor trying to contact suppliers. 

Feature Highlights

• Minority & NDA status tracking expiration and providing status of supplier with auto notifications sent for updates

• Related part numbers, piece cost, LTA’s, tooling, and capacity information managed along capability for yearly buys and other forecast calculations

• Integration into supplier portal and quoting - Track quotes by supplier, response information by quote number or part number, tailored to your request

• Quality scorecard and ISO/IATF tracking allowing the buyer a real-time view into score information

• Supplier contact information such as plants, locations, supplier code and other pertinent information tailored to you as the buyer

• Certification expiration alerts to both internal and external stakeholders

Manufacturers operate in a complex and ever-changing regulatory landscape. The Regulatory Compliance Module helps ensure your internal operations as well as external value chain comply with relevant policies and regulations. Automated workflow triggers coupled with integrations to databases such as IMDS can help track properties on your parts, materials, and suppliers to lower the cost of compliance for REACH, RoHS, Conflict Minerals, IPC-1752A, and similar regulatory directives.

Feature Highlights

• Regulatory change tracking helps monitor and implement policy updates and log critical information such as release date, effectivity, impacted items

• BOM check identifies substances of concern used in product structures

• End item traceability is maintained in the system for revision levels, and dates for which products were built in order to send out notifications

• Report and analyze compliance status across product material, vendors, and operational divisions

• Automated notifications and alerts for stakeholders and suppliers for substance declarations or regulatory changes based on preconfigured workflow triggers