The fourth instalment of our Intelligent Product Lifecycle webinar series explains and demonstrates how the solid product data foundation enabled through PLM can be harnessed by the wider enterprise to improve efficiency, quality and compliance.
After a quick recap of part three of the series and the core concepts of the Intelligent Product Lifecycle, Allan Thompson, PTC Technical Manager at LEAP explains how Windchill is designed to connect to and integrate with external systems. The open nature of Windchill allows it to inform other systems such as SAP, MES/ERP, web services and many more. Use case examples are provided to explain how Windchill can connect to systems to address major issues such as risk and reliability, sustainability, material selection and optimisation.
Next Allan provides a demonstration of how Windchill integrates with Assent to share compliance information, allowing quick assessment of the compliance status of a graphics card’s bill of materials (BOM). He then touches on Requirements Management, explaining how Windchill enables Digital Product Traceability by generating traces between requirements and BOM items. This means that when an item within the BOM is changed, the resulting impact on the requirements is easy to find and see. Allan demonstrates Windchill’s integration with Codebeamer, setting up a trace between a part inside Windchill and a specific requirement within Codebeamer, then showing the resulting information that comes into Windchill, now associated with the relevant part.
The next clip provides a quick overview of how Windchill can integrate with ERP and MES systems, sharing bi-directional information. An ERP system can feed cost information to Windchill, with Windchill returning information such as automated item setup, part BOM revision, change orders, EBOM-MBOM and product top level assembly. This allows for example, engineers to leverage ERP data on stock levels and cost projections during the initial design phases, ensuring a smooth transition into production and prototyping.
MES systems provide Windchill with non-conformance information while Windchill can return information such as ECO specific BOM revisions, first article inspection and process checkout calls, numerical control (NC) programs and more. Watch the clip below to learn more. This facilitates accurate tracking of quality inspections, production metrics, and inventory management, ultimately leading to better decision-making throughout the product lifecycle.
With Windchill serving as the definitive source of truth for product design, manufacturing, and servicing information, it’s essential for various stakeholders to access the most current data. To facilitate this, PTC’s Windchill Navigate was introduced as a powerful tool tailored to extend PLM information beyond engineering. Unlike the more complex user interface designed for daily PLM users, Windchill Navigate provides a suite of out-of-the-box and customisable applications that allow team members from different roles—such as purchasing and manufacturing—to view, download, and interact with PLM data efficiently, ensuring everyone has access to the latest relevant design files, technical documents, and work instructions.
The functionality of Windchill Navigate goes beyond simple data access, as it also includes collaboration applications that enable users to annotate models, report problems, and kick off workflows directly related to their roles. Moreover, the platform allows for rapid application development, where customers can create their own apps using reusable components and third-party connectors, all within a low or no-code environment. This flexibility empowers organisations to integrate and customise the way they deploy PLM information, making it accessible not only through Windchill but also through embedded applications in existing systems. Watch the clip below to learn how Windchill Navigate is revolutionising the way organisations interact with their PLM data, driving collaboration and efficiency like never before.
Using Windchill Navigate, Allan demonstrates how easy it is to navigate through essential information such as part structures, BOMs and associated attributes. The out-of-the-box applications provided by PTC let users query specific parts, view detailed part lists, and even access drawing files with just a single click. As an administrator, the flexibility to tailor the user experience allows for the customization of access rights and displayed attributes based on user roles, ensuring that everyone from manufacturing to purchasing can effortlessly find the information relevant to their tasks.
Finally, Allan explains the scope for creating custom applications within the Windchill Navigate platform, showcasing how organisations can build tailored dashboards that aggregate data from various sources, including ERP systems. This capability not only centralizes pertinent project information but also streamlines workflows and improves efficiency. Watch the clip below to see how Windchill Navigate transforms how teams engage with their PLM data, ultimately enhancing collaboration and informed decision-making, paving the way for improved project execution across the board.
This concludes our Intelligent Product Lifecycle series. Click below to revist previous topics, or reach out to LEAP’s PTC team to arrange a discussion about how you can get started on your Intelligent Product Lifecycle journey today.
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