Streamlining development via Automated Workflow
SolidWorks Product Data Management Software Solutions & Services
Every manufacturer has its own distinct business processes for developing products, which an effective PDM system can help to automate. Specific protocols for handling design reviews, issuing release-for-production approvals, and processing engineering change orders (ECOs) are examples of the important business processes that constitute a product development organization's "workflow."
The ability to automate your organization's workflow
While many PDM solutions attempt to impose a standardized workflow
process on all manufacturers, Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. recognizes that the
series of business processes a product development effort follows can differ
as greatly as the types of products under development. Instead of forcing a
product development organization to adopt workflow processes based on
some standard protocol, SolidWorks Enterprise PDM is flexible enough to
document and enforce a manufacturer's specific and unique approach to
developing products. Because SolidWorks Enterprise PDM is fully configurable, it
provides the ability to automate an organization's workflow and approval
processes today and to adapt and keep pace as procedures evolve over time.
Become active participants in product development-related processes
With a mainstream PDM system like SolidWorks Enterprise PDM, manufacturers can automate workflow. The system ensures that all employees adhere to a company's own designated processes, and SolidWorks Enterprise PDM provides the tools for defining and formalizing the organization's approach to developing products. Well-defined processes, combined with the system's built-in notification capabilities, ensure that the right people review and approve product designs and changes, as well as release designs for production, at the right time. The workflow functions of SolidWorks Enterprise PDM enable users and personnel at local and distributed locations to become active participants in product development, design reviews, engineering change orders, quote approvals, and other product development-related processes.
Interactive customizable workflow paths
SolidWorks Enterprise PDM contains customizable workflow diagrams that define the path which product design-related information must follow through the various stages of a manufacturer's specific development process. It also specifies the responsible individuals and the data access rights—such as read, modify, and approve—that they need to perform their specific functions. Automatic notifications prompt personnel to perform required actions at a specific stage. Furthermore, overall company workflow status reports can show key metrics about the number of workflows in process, the state of progress for each workflow, who is responsible, and more.
Integrate with other business systems
Connecting SolidWorks Enterprise PDM with existing business applications, such as material resource planning (MRP) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, can provide additional operational efficiencies, eliminate duplicated efforts, and further reduce the potential for errors. The open system architecture of SolidWorks Enterprise PDM, utilizing Microsoft® SQL Server™ and its own standards-based, comprehensive (COM, Visual Basic®, C+®) application programming interface (API), enables manufacturers to integrate with other business systems, such as SAP and Microsoft Dynamics.
Automate your critical cycles
A mainstream PDM system like SolidWorks Enterprise PDM gives product development organizations the tools they need to manage workflows, automate critical cycles, streamline operations, drive innovation, increase overall effectiveness, integrate systems, and accelerate time-to-market.
