Data booster closes digitization gaps 

Between SAP ERP and Engineering

The simus classmate software suite, which is now also available as a cloud solution, can be used to optimize engineering data, improve component reuse, determine the product carbon footprint and promote cost-conscious design.

On the way to digitizing industrial manufacturing, all systems involved in the value creation process must be linked in order to optimize development, production and logistics processes. Particularly in medium-sized companies, the question arises as to how the various systems in the domains of development, production, procurement and sales are coupled and how the respective data formats are translated. Adaptations in the ERP system are time-consuming and costly. Workarounds with spreadsheets are not a permanent alternative. Therefore, medium-sized companies should take other paths in optimizing and using their engineering data.

Without hardware and software investments

With the simus classmate software from simus systems, a specialist for the cleansing, structuring and efficient use of technical data inventories, manufacturers can improve their master data without additional investments in hardware and software and at the same time close digitization gaps. The program includes several offerings for product development, procurement and manufacturing. It works closely integrated with SAP systems, as a cloud solution as well as on premise.

Simus classmate closes gaps between systems with end-to-end processes.

Structure CAD models and components

CAD and PDM as well as ERP systems provide (different) forms or lists to enter attribute and other information of 3D models. But they do not provide any support for the content task. The consequences: Already in design and development there are incomplete, inconsistent data, input errors, duplicate work and incompatible formats. Across the company, this state of affairs leads to a Babylonian confusion of languages with regard to the company's own products.

Anyone who uses simus classmate puts an end to this in a simple way. Uploaded 3D CAD models are analyzed and classified fully automatically in a patented process independent of modeling methodology and CAD system. Without any user intervention, the software additionally calculates a "geometric fingerprint" for each CAD model, which enables a quick similarity search based on the native geometry. Likewise, the program fills the class-specific attribute lists with the determined values and creates 2D and 3D preview files for illustration. The automatic processes take into account the conventions defined in rules and ensure high data quality.

Limit the active component stock

The benefits from organized CAD models first reach the designers, but then extend to the entire company: Required components are found quickly and effortlessly. The constant search for components, predecessors and versions of parts comes to an end. But if you find a component that fits or can be quickly modified, you won't redesign it. In this way, the entire company is spared superfluous duplicates. In the case of purchased parts, better margins are achieved through order bundling. In in-house production, higher batch sizes and fewer parts to be processed lead to savings. In logistics and warehousing, lower inventories with a higher turnover rate reduce capital commitment and costs. 

Provide manufacturing information

There is traditionally a high need for coordination between product development and production. But the technical data of the components on the one hand, and the information about manufacturing processes, capacity utilization, machine hour rates, material costs and finishing effort on the other, are kept in separate IT systems.

But job planners depend on information about part dimensions, work sequences, materials and tolerances of future parts for effective detailed production planning and preliminary costing.

Here, too, simus classmate closes a digitization gap: The service automatically derives the necessary work sequences for manufacturing from the CAD model and creates a detailed work plan. Stored, customizable cost parameters result in a quick possibility for preliminary costing, which accelerates the preparation of quotations. In procurement, this knowledge helps with decisions between in-house production and external procurement. If the latter is chosen, the knowledge of product and production costs gives purchasing a better negotiating position. Thus, the use of simus classmate contributes to the reduction of manufacturing costs.

Determine the product carbon footprint

More and more manufacturers are making sustainability an important corporate goal that also affects product development. Reducing the carbon dioxide emissions caused plays an important role - new products should be manufactured as CO2-neutral as possible. With simus classmate, the effects of each individual manufacturing step can now be calculated individually and precisely for each component and linked to information about the resulting emissions. 

The cloud services of simus classmate work together with the SAP systems in an integrated manner.

Cost conscious design

Similarly, designers can use simus classmate to automatically calculate the expected manufacturing costs of their components and assemblies directly from the user interface of their 3D CAD system and display the calculation results. Without changes to the CAD model, costs for different tolerances, materials or surface treatments can be determined. The most expensive machining operations are tracked down and displayed in color at the touch of a button. In this way, cost drivers can be identified during the development phase and effective countermeasures can be taken. Easy to use without interrupting work, the automatic calculation triggers knowledge gains, creates calculation knowledge and strengthens the cost awareness of the designers.

Data booster as cloud services

In order to facilitate the introduction for medium-sized companies, simus systems also offers the services of the simus classmate software as cloud services: Without investing in hardware and software or complex project management, you can use the services 24/7 - integrated with SAP's own ERP solution.

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