PLM solutions help black cabs stay ahead

An IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 15, 2004

LTI Vehicles, Britain's premier manufacturer of purpose-built taxis, has migrated to IBM PLM Solutions for the development of its entire line of vehicles.

LTI Vehicles, Britain's premier manufacturer of purpose-built taxis, has migrated to IBM Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Solutions for the development of its entire line of vehicles.

The software will help taxi design teams implement new features to make the vehicles more comfortable, convenient and safe.

IBM business partner CenitDesktop is managing the implementation at LTI's Coventry-based manufacturing facility.

LTI Vehicles cited increased global demand for its taxis and the ensuing expansion of product variations as the critical reason for the investment in PLM.

As more of LTI's vehicles are designed for export, they must meet varying customer demands and international vehicle regulations.

LTI chose IBM and CenitDesktop because of their combination of powerful solutions backed by industry-specific skills and experience working with the world's leading automakers.

Hailed as the world's best purpose-built taxi, LTI's new TXII is the centrepiece of the company's technological transformation and is the base for a new family of taxis to be designed and built over the next decade.

Using IBM PLM Solutions, LTI engineers will maintain the taxis' globally-recognised form and enhance them with a wealth of built-in features that offer comfort, convenience and safety and that also satisfy the needs of wheelchair users and the visually and hearing impaired.

The easy-to-use product development platform will enable the engineers to focus on innovation, rather than data entry.

LTI chose CenitDesktop as its partner for the implementation of the IBM PLM Solutions, Catia V5 and Smarteam.

CenitDesktop's in-depth expertise in a wide range of PLM applications enabled them to support LTI in the migration from their existing design platform to Catia V5 and Smarteam.

"CenitDesktop provided the methodologies we required to successfully migrate data from our old system".

"We're advancing much more quickly than we ever thought possible", said Ian Mullen, LTI Vehicles Manufacturing Director.

After initial training on the new solution, CenitDesktop's technology transfer programme helped LTI streamline processes and develop best practices.

Cenit's on-site and telephone assistance contributed to the smooth and rapid implementation.

Said Mullen: "We can't fault the service we've had from CenitDesktop, it has been first class".

Geoff Haines, Managing Director, CenitDesktop, said: "LTI has been a loyal customer of ours for many years, and their migration to IBM PLM Solutions is an emphatic endorsement of the quality and value we deliver".

"I am sure that LTI will gain a significant business advantage through this change".

Mullen added: "The strategy behind this important investment is to leverage the power of innovative technologies in order to meet growing market demand".

"We are combining this powerful product design technology with our heritage of fine craftsmanship to penetrate new markets and deliver new and innovative renditions of our famous 'black cab' as well as some totally new models".

"This PLM implementation has already produced a significant improvement to our design processes".

"Even a successful, venerated company like LTI can benefit from streamlined processes and improved innovative capabilities", said Klaus Schaefer, Vice President, IBM Product Lifecycle Management, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

"LTI's increased sales volume is proof that PLM investments pay off".

"IBM remains dedicated to their success and we will continue to work with our business partners to develop and deliver PLM Solutions and industry expertise that support client success".

CenitDesktop is a Premier IBM Business Partner, selling IBM PLM Solutions, including Catia, Enovia and Smarteam applications developed by Dassault Systemes, and IBM middleware and services.