IBM and Dassault Systèmes have announced a specialised PLM (product lifecycle management) industry solution for aerospace suppliers. Aerospace Supplier Collaboration (ASC) is a strategic solution that enables companies to better manage and control the processes common to suppliers in the aerospace industry.

ASC delivers a suite of aerospace-industry process models, templates, and practices based on SMARTEAM, an industry-leading collaborative product data and lifecycle management solution.

The solution manages data in the context of an aircraft program structure, internal communication, traceability of information, and control of key engineering processes (engineering and manufacturing change, distribution of work tasks, preliminary data release, configuration management, and document management). It also manages and automates the release of maturing product data across the enterprise and supply chain.

With the ASC solution, companies can realise a significant reduction in product development cycle times as well as reduced work-package risk. Greater control over data and process enables suppliers to work more efficiently and responsively, enhancing their competitive ability while optimising collaboration and compliance with any given customer. The solution is designed to be easy to install and configure, delivering a rapid return on investment.

"Tomorrow's Best Practice is about creating the future competitive environment rather than being constrained by it," says Brian Little, executive vice president, European Operations, Magellan Aerospace Corporation, a leading global supplier of technologically advanced aerospace systems and components and an early adopter of the ASC solution. "We are transforming our business by proactively piloting and developing this solution and other related initiatives. We have been able to achieve a 30-35% improvement in effectiveness of engineers' time, and, by bringing our product information and configuration under control, we have significantly reduced risk and waste and created opportunities for later incorporation of design maturity. Time savings are channelled into real value adding activity - ultimately increasing our profitability. The ASC solution from IBM and Dassault Systèmes helps us deliver greater value to our customers now and in the future."

"More easily than ever before, suppliers can demonstrate control and compliance with aerospace processes and industry standards," says Hervé Rolland, vice president, Global PLM Solutions and PDM sales, IBM PLM. "The ASC solution brings them rapid payback through efficient implementation, process templates and PLM practices. This new solution will help our aerospace customers deliver innovative products to market faster, laying the groundwork for their future success."

"The ASC solution is a powerful combination of Smarteam's collaborative capabilities and industry-specific templates and PLM practices," says Stephen Shibel, director, Aerospace Industry Solutions, Dassault Systèmes. "The result is a solution that enables aerospace suppliers to transform their businesses and cut costs by optimising the use of critical information and collaborating to streamline processes."

For more information contact CDC, 011 786 3516, igal@cdcza.co.za, www.cdcza.co.za