You Can’t Scale the Business without PLM

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You Can’t Scale the Business without PLM

Structuring Data for Reuse and Establishing Repeatable Processes - Look at the diagram below, a generic data structure that highlights that part and product data are comprised of numerous components.  What’s not shown are the ongoing changes that occur.  Parts change along with associated documentation, specifications, calculations, and so on.  Hence, there are revisions and rolled up versions.  In reality, this should be a three-dimensional image that reflects changes over time.

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Wrangling Engineering Change Orders

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Wrangling Engineering Change Orders

Earlier this month, Desktop Engineering published an article by Brian Albright that provides a refreshing perspective on a familiar topic – engineering change.  Albright suggests that many of the strategies and techniques used to manage engineering change (EC) are quickly becoming obsolete due to increasing product complexity and market demands.  While this concept is not new, the article looks at the root causes of this issue and explores actionable solutions.  The urgency of the problem is highlighted by thoughts and comments from industry experts and day-to-day EC practitioners.  These perspectives represent a range of organizations, including Arena, M-Files, Omnify, Oracle, Synergis and others.  It quickly becomes clear that a new approach to information management – whether it be PDM, ECM, or PLM – is key to modernizing EC.  However, Albright is careful to avoid picking sides.  Despite this impartial analysis, PLM seems to break away from the pack.

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Field Report: Aras Community Event (ACE) 2016

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Field Report: Aras Community Event (ACE) 2016

Aras just concluded their annual Aras Community Event (ACE) in Detroit, Michigan.  The two and a half-day event in Motor City was packed with a combination of compelling customer stories, thought leadership, updates/roadmap for the Aras Innovator PLM solution, and practical and relevant implementation insights.  The uptick over last year’s attendance coupled with the addition of 32 new partners from around the globe, reinforces Aras as a disruptive player in the traditional PLM landscape.

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The PLM Maturity Quadrant Explained

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The PLM Maturity Quadrant Explained

The vdR Group has recently formulated the PLM Maturity Quadrant as illustrated in the diagram below. The quadrant is comprised of two simple parameters.  The x-axis is referred as the Data Cohesion variable and the y-axis characterizes Process Repeatability.  The top right-hand quadrant represents the ideal PLM environment.  The Data Cohesion variable considers how well data is connected.  The expression “single source of truth” is often associated with the goals of PLM.  This suggests that users seeking to access part and/or product related data can go to ONE place.  The data doesn’t have to be in a single repository, but linkages need to be in place.

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Tech Tips - Extend Aras Innovator to CAD Workgroups

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Tech Tips - Extend Aras Innovator to CAD Workgroups

As much as we like to talk about all the wonderful things you can do with Aras Innovator as a PLM solution, it can easily be used as a product data management (PDM) platform to manage CAD data.

Recognizing this need, Aras developed best-in-class PDM functionality inside Aras Innovator.  You can effectively manage all your CAD data and share this across the business.

To support this, Aras offers an open, CAD-neutral environment for developing packaged and custom integrations.  It is used by various CAD Connector partners as the basis of their Connector products and can be used by customers or partners to develop custom PDM solutions.

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Kicking Off 2016 Has Been an Economic Cage-Rattler

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Kicking Off 2016 Has Been an Economic Cage-Rattler

January 2016 has gotten off to a rough start for the global markets.  Manufacturers already face the pressures of competition, innovation, compliance, liability, distributed supply chains and more.  But, this year’s start has thrown in uncertainty with a dash of volatility.  No doubt this has prompted internal discussions for many businesses about what all this may mean for the coming year and how best to respond.

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A Review of My Aras Innovator Training Experience

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A Review of My Aras Innovator Training Experience

by Martin van der Roest - January 18, 2016 - We have been an Aras PLM Software Partner for several years.  During the last year we have taken a more active role in business development and sales activities.  This is one of the key areas that I have been involved in.  I am very familiar with PLM solutions and relational data base management systems (RDBS).  RDBS’ have been basis for much of our work since the company got underway 30 years ago.  And over those years we have been involved with Autodesk’s Work Center, Motiva, SmarTeam, MatrixOne, Autodesk Vault, and through integrations touched numerous other PLM and even ERP type of solutions. 

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Proposal Management Module

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Proposal Management Module

A “Quote-to-Cash” Extension for Engineer/Build-to-Order Organizations

You may have heard about this expression “Quote to Cash.”  Admittedly, it can sound a bit flippant.  If only it were that easy.  But, what if you could create significant efficiencies in the proposal process and drive cash in a shorter period of time?

Well, that’s the idea behind one of our newest lab projects… the Proposal Management Module.  The goal is to help sales capture requirements, repurpose those into a proposal, pass the information on directly to planning and engineering, and do this without loss of “data fidelity”.  If this process can be accelerated, then it stands to reason that the potential for delivery and invoicing are shortened as well.

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Interview with Hiep Tran – Director, Solution Architecture at The van der Roest Group

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Interview with Hiep Tran – Director, Solution Architecture at The van der Roest Group

Hiep heads up solution architecture at The van der Roest Group. He has been with the group for 25 years and is involved in many of the technical activities surrounding the Group’s products and services.  Martin:  So Hiep, tell us a little about yourself.  What do you do and what are your responsibilities?  Hiep: Simply put, I build products and solutions for the Group.  My responsibilities involve requirement gathering, determine the best technology to meet the needs, designing solutions, and helping… 

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Interview with Jim Dodds - Director of Professional Services at The vdR Group

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Interview with Jim Dodds - Director of Professional Services at The vdR Group

Prior to joining vdR, I worked as a consultant in the computer aided facility management (CAFM), computer maintenance management (CMM), and customer relationship management (CRM) industries.    I was responsible for managing a wide range of tasks from pre-sales, requirements analysis, implementations, training and into support.  Additionally I worked in architecture for a number of years as a CAD drafter focusing on both residential and commercial designs.

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Aras’ Community Event (ACE) 2015 Observations

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Aras’ Community Event (ACE) 2015 Observations

Part of Aras’ mantra is “Aras is Different”.  As a long time participant in the PLM and engineering software space, this phrase should not to be dismissed as mere marketing hype.  It’s the real deal.  I used to think that Aras was playing catch up and slugging it out in the shadows of the long time established players such as Dassault, PTC and ...

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