PDM to be integrated with collaboration software

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 25, 2001

SpecStation, GlobalSpec's Web-based PDM application, is to be available for integration with MatrixOne's business collaboration platform, eMatrix and the Value Chain Portfolio of business applications

GlobalSpec has announced a partnership with MatrixOne, the provider of product collaboration solutions for the value chain.

SpecStation, GlobalSpec's Web-based Product Data Management (PDM) application for the sourcing of mechanical, electrical and optical components, will be available for integration with MatrixOne's business collaboration platform, eMatrix and the Value Chain Portfolio of business applications.

With this partnership, GlobalSpec has merged its extensive, best-of-breed Web-based technical content with MatrixOne's product collaboration solutions to enhance collaborative design and engineering, boost design productivity and accelerate time-to-market.

The integration of SpecStation and eMatrix provides enterprise users such as engineers, designers, technical buyers and purchasing managers, with convenient access to GlobalSpec's unparalleled database of searchable product information.

With SpecStation, eMatrix users now have the ability to export critical data from component searches directly into the eMatrix platform.

This makes it easier for users to share product information.

It also eliminates time-consuming transcription activity, as well as costly transcription errors, from the design process.

Widely recognized as a leading source for collaborative product development solutions, the MatrixOne Value Chain Portfolio is a set of plug-and-play applications that integrates product information and business processes.

Additionally, the applications facilitate collaboration between an enterprise and its value chain of trusted partners, customers and suppliers.

The breadth of Value Chain Portfolio extends from the early stages of product concept through engineering development to manufacturing and beyond.

The backbone for this product collaboration is eMatrix, an open, flexible Internet platform with extensive collaboration services to help companies simplify and manage complex business processes.

"MatrixOne's products are designed to help foster business collaboration across the global value chain and accelerate product development," said Paul Gilmartin, VP of product management for MatrixOne.

"Now, by providing access to robust and critical content by way of SpecStation, a market-leading PDM application, our customers will decrease costs and improve time-to-market by giving them the ability to complete the product development process for direct and indirect goods via access to GlobalSpec's vast library of suppliers and component information." While its initial implementation is being offered to MatrixOne customers as a high-value, flexible content solution, SpecStation will integrate with a broad variety of PDM platforms and product sourcing systems and applications.

"In the age of collapsed product lifecycle, time-to-market is the proverbial holy grail," said Mark Withington, Senior Analyst, PLM Research.

"Structured content component search tools within the CPC (collaborative product commerce) environment, such as MatrixOne's integration of SpecStation into its eMatrix platform, meets the needs of the supplier and the OEM design engineer alike.

They place suppliers squarely within the design phase where demand creation is fostered by dramatically shortening the OEM engineer's component search." "This partnership represents a significant development in enterprise product data management," said John Schneiter, CEO of GlobalSpec.

"As a former practicing engineer, I know that engineers and other enterprise users are always looking for faster and better ways to design and develop new products.

GlobalSpec has been working hard over the last six years to leverage the true power of the Internet and provide engineers with something we used to only dream of.

Now with SpecStation and MatrixOne, we have merged the leading Web-based PDM application and product information database with the leading business collaboration platform to provide more value than ever.".