The Challenge
Blentech’s existing ERP, CAD and PDM systems were not integrated, and none were connected to the company’s Propel PLM system. This led to misalignment between engineering and manufacturing groups. The company’s large BOM structures called for automation to drive BOMs from origination in engineering to downstream recipients and presented the opportunity for better component reuse, but too often the state of parts was uncertain and those opportunities for reuse couldn’t be identified.
The Solution
Working with the Blentech team, Zero Wait-State captured key issues and desired outcomes for Blendtech product development. ZWS then used CloudState to implement a bi-directional integration between SolidWorks PDMPro and Propel PLM to drive component and BOM information from the engineering authoring source to PLM.
The Benefits
With its streamlined integration Blentech now enjoys quicker and more reliable information transfer from its PDM system to its PLM system. Engineering now has enhanced and scalable change control through integrated systems with final change release in PLM. The team also has improved visibility for possible component reuse and downstream component status.
The Challenge
Powell Industries needed to install and configure Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Process Integration Pack (PIP) in a challenging environment. They wanted Sites to be added to both Agile and Oracle EBS with numerous customer site-specific attributes and catalog customizations, and wanted to upgrade from Agile 9.3.1.2 to 9.3.2 to take advantage of the enhancements. In addition, Powell wanted to integrate their data management systems. Powell built a set of self-made tools to manage their engineering data and merge it into the back office systems. The tools were effective but aging and complex to maintain. Additionally, the CAD data was not well managed, Powell desired to bring in a PDM system to manage the CAD data and an industry-standard method to integrate with PLM.
The Solution
Zero Wait-State installed, configured and deployed SOA and PIP to integrate items, Manufacturer and BOM records from Agile to EBS. We then deployed custom process extensions triggered from workflow events to automatically update global and site-specific attributes based on defined criteria. The solution included an error handling framework that allowed the client to handle errors in a more effective and efficient manner.
DesignState was selected to bridge the gap between Agile PLM and the chosen PDM tool, Autodesk Vault. ZWS implemented DesignState and a set of configuration policies were defined to bring design data effectively into Agile PLM.
The Benefits
Powell now has fully integrated Agile PLM into their Oracle EBS environment allowing them to seamlessly push items and BOMs to remote sites around the world. Engineers and Designers work in a user-friendly Agile environment, and Item records they create are automatically pushed to their ERP system and used across the world.
With the help of DesignState, Powell is now able to connect their Design Data to the enterprise speeding innovation cycles while ensuring that errors are minimized through the effective framework.
The Challenge
ESCO’s globally distributed engineering teams struggled to meet demands for quicker turn-around, while project leads lacked the visibility, tools, and metrics to effectively manage these resources. As a result, engineering backlog had increased. A new project management solution was needed to replace existing homegrown systems.
The Solution
With help from Zero Wait-State ESCO deployed Agile’s PPM module. The focus was on rapid discovery and deployment, initially targeting a small set of pilot projects, representing multiple operating units. Defined success criteria, prioritization, and constant feedback were used throughout the project to keep the team focused on specific goals.
The Benefits
This engagement model highlights the built-in capabilities and benefits of Agile PPM. Despite limited time and budget, ZWS was able to achieve the desired outcomes. Maximizing the immediate benefits to the business while minimizing cost led to a stronger justification for expanded adoption of PPM across the enterprise.
