Is Aras PLM the Solution for Startups?

Is Aras PLM the Solution for Startups?

Over the last year, we’ve noticed an increasing number of VC financed startups choosing Aras Innovator. When asked about why they’re attracted to Aras, we hear the same things from these startups … “After evaluation of the various PLM offerings, Aras Innovator is clearly the quickest solution to implement and the configurable platform-based architecture is more responsive to fast-paced change and growth than other options.

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Empowering Quoting and Program Execution for Automotive Suppliers - Part 2 of 3

Empowering Quoting and Program Execution for Automotive Suppliers - Part 2 of 3

Many automotive suppliers are heavily invested in legacy point solutions to support activities across the enterprise.  While these point solutions usually work well at performing a specific function, they often create silos that impede coordination.  Activities like a simple quote revision or routine APQP corrective action can be cumbersome and error-prone.  These islands of data create a range of problems that can be broadly grouped across three categories: data, process, and people. 

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    Fueling the Business of Engineering for Automotive Suppliers - Part 2 of 2

    Fueling the Business of Engineering for Automotive Suppliers - Part 2 of 2

    In Part 1 of this two-part series, we began by discussing how a perfect storm for inefficiencies and risk has been brewing – especially for automotive suppliers.  We identified the quoting phase and its related processes and activities as a key source of this risk as visualized by the Risk Quadrant graphic below.  To overcome these challenges, we suggested that a product lifecycle management (PLM) platform be used.  In the second part of this series, we’ll explore the value a PLM platform can provide and the specific operational activities that PLM facilitates.

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    Fueling the Business of Engineering for Automotive Suppliers - Part 1 of 2

    Fueling the Business of Engineering for Automotive Suppliers - Part 1 of 2

    Automotive suppliers face a combination of market forces that have created a unique business environment – an environment where uncertainty and unmitigated risk are eroding profit margins.  Why are other manufactures immune and what’s so different about automotive suppliers?  High volume production combined with product and tooling complexity create a perfect storm for uncertainty and risk.  This article deconstructs these risk factors and explores strategies and tools to calm the storm.

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    Applied PLM: Design Automation

    Applied PLM: Design Automation

    An Interview with Scott Heide, CEO of Engineering Intent - PPLM:  Welcome, Scott.  Thank you for spending some time with us.  We are happy to have you bring additional perspective to our topic of CPQ.  Before we start, give us a quick backgrounder as well as what you are doing today.  Scott:  I started out with an interesting educational combination, both engineering and computer science degrees.  After I graduated with a master’s in science from MIT in the mid-80s, I immediately joined a company that was a pioneer in engineering automation called ICAD.  They developed the concept of what was then called “knowledge-based engineering,” now more often called “engineering automation,” and were able to deliver some eye-opening applications to a wide variety of high-end customers.

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    Creating a “PLM Beachhead” That Drives Immediate Value

    Creating a “PLM Beachhead” That Drives Immediate Value

    Just because PLM can do everything, doesn’t mean is should… especially when starting out. Far too many consultants and service providers are happy to help you find the end of the PLM rainbow when in reality 80% of the value is driven by 20% of a solution’s functional scope. How can this “20%” be found before time and money are wasted.  Join Martin van der Roest at next week’s webinar and learn how to equip yourself with proven strategies that emphasize the importance data cohesion and process automation as foundational pieces of a PLM solution.   Using this approach will help identify the “20%” and produce a solutions that scales and extends value throughout the enterprise.
     

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    Developing Workflow Components in Aras

    Developing Workflow Components in Aras

    By Ben Desmarais, vdR Group Senior Implementation Manager

    I’ve been doing PLM solutions for nearly two decades now.  Crafting workflow solutions are essential for most any implementation effort.  I was recently involved in designing and configuring workflow processes for a project, and a couple of things occurred that prompted me to want to share some thoughts.

    First, lifecycle stages go hand-in-hand with workflows.  Think of workflows as moving a collection of items through a process.  As an item moves through the process, it is likely to change states.  For example, if an item is being changed, then once a change process is activated for that item, the lifecycle state might be assigned to “work-in-process” or WIP...

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    Don’t Mind the Engine Light

    Don’t Mind the Engine Light

    Autodesk Vault was used for the CAD workgroup.  Once designs were released, renditions were manually created and then loaded into SharePoint.  The bills we exported to a spreadsheet and manually entered into their ERP solution.  Purchasing would go to SharePoint to access and print the rendered drawings.  These would be associated to purchase orders.

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    Breaking Through The Data Bottleneck on the Path to Growth

    Breaking Through The Data Bottleneck on the Path to Growth

     The president has an engineering degree and background and this was evident in the way the operations were setup … very clean, organized and methodical.  There were specific areas to take in raw goods, mix the various components per a secret recipe, cure, prep, package and store.  There’s a lot more that goes into making soap then you’d think.  I was impressed with all the “moving parts”.

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    What’s the value of a PLM solution?

    What’s the value of a PLM solution?

    The term “PLM” is not as common as other terms in an IT organization.  I would imagine that common threads of discussions touch on technologies such as SaaS/cloud based solutions, SAN/NANs storage, voice-over-IP, etc.  Some of the terms related to specific applications most likely include CAD, ERP, ECM (Enterprise Content Management) and CRM.  My own anecdotal experience with various customers suggests that PLM is still not common vernacular.

     

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