The Hidden Costs of Disconnected PLM and ERP Systems

Release Delays - Downstream activities end up using outdated and inaccurate product data to transact purchase orders, inspection and quality, manufacturing process planning and more.

Data, Document, or Vendor Information out of Synch - When PLM and CRM aren't synchronized, version conflicts occur, outdated parts and/or BOMs are used, qualified sources are not available to engineering, and inadvertent use of outdated vendor data or unapproved vendors occur.

Compliance Risks - Manual transfers between PLM and ERP create gaps in your audit trail and make it nearly impossible to maintain data and file integrity as well as regulatory compliance across your complete product development process.

Cost of Quality (CoQ) - Disconnected platforms contributed to scrap, rework, returns, excess inventory, delayed schedules, expedited shipment payments, and warranties that ultimately add to the cost of quality  which drains profits.

One Integration Platform - The Manufacturing Industry’s Only Comprehensive Digital Thread Platform providing CAD-to-MRO Connectivity

Integration Components: 

Aras Innovator Connector - This connector supports a myriad of Aras Innovator configurations including Items, Files, use of Lifecycles and/or ECOs. The connector supports Aras Innovator unique data structure including the extraction of change workflows, parts, BOMs, and documents.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Connector - Purpose-built for D365. This connector handles part creation and updates, simple or advanced BOM configurations creation and updates, vendor and supplier synchronization,  lifecycle state synchronization, and no-code flexibility to support additional use cases.

Nexus - Orchestration hub that eliminates code and logic from the endpoints and coordinates the exchange and processing for data and files.  Pre-configurated “Transaction Templates” are designed to encapsulate common use case and workflow logic. Nexus contains built in field mappings, encryption, error detection, and recovery processes.

Real Customer Impact

• instant synchronization for part and file information between Aras Innovator and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

• zero data entry errors

• typically 5 to 10 days to implement … not weeks or months

Integration Reliability

• handles both simple and advance BOM structures in D365

• maintains complete audit trails across both systems 

• 99.9% uptime with automatic error recovery

Built for real engineering workflows. Most common use case templates include:

• Part/BOM Release from Aras Innovator to D365

• Synchronization of Inventory and Non-Inventory Item Creation and Updates from Aras Innovator to D365

• Quantity-on-Hand, Average Costs, and other data from D365 federated back to Aras Innovator

• Visibility in D365 on the Status of Engineering Changes in Aras Innovator

• Creation and/or Updates of Vendor Information from Aras Innovator to D365

All of the above use cases can be tailored to the specific needs of an organization.  Additional use cases can be added.

Deploy Securely in Your Environment

SaaS Platform

Nexus is designed and operates as a native full SaaS platform and is naturally suited to support the cloud-based operations of Aras Innovator and Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Integration Specifications

• Aras Innovator - supported data types: Items, Documents, BOMs, and Files

• D365 - supported data types:  Assembly, inventory and non-inventory, simple or advance BOMs, and suppliers

Security

• SSL/TLS encryption, token-based authentication

Nexus for Aras Innovator and D365 is made available via vdR Nexus partners that include Aras Corp., KETIV (US), SolidCAD (Canada), other regional resellers, and direct from vdR.  Pricing is comprised of an annual subscription and installation and configuration services.

Annual subscription includes ongoing support, mapping modifications, and API updates.  The subscription pricing is simply based on the number of users of each platform.

Services include use case requirements, setup, configuration, mappings, and API authentication for each stage of the deployment including development, user acceptance testing (UAT), and production environments.  Services typically range between 5 to 10 days.

Aerospace & Defense - Maintain strict compliance and traceability from initial design through production with seamless CAD-PLM integration.

Automotive - Accelerate time-to-market by eliminating manual handoffs between design engineering and product development teams.

Industrial Equipment - Manage complex assemblies and custom configurations across your complete product portfolio.

Medical Devices - Ensure regulatory compliance with complete audit trails from design through manufacturing and quality processes.

Anywhere Aras Innovator and D365 are used.