Framework targets automotive PLM

A new PLM initiative creates a leading-edge open-standards-based platform for computer aided engineering simulation and analysis for the global automotive industry.

IBM has launched a comprehensive PLM initiative that creates a leading-edge open-standards-based platform for computer aided engineering (CAE) simulation and analysis targeted specifically for the global automotive industry.

The move comes in response to growing demand from automotive clients for new ways to reduce product development lead times and costs for increased quality and competitiveness.

Called Automotive Engineering Innovation Framework (AEIF), the new initiative offers a reference architecture, a standard deployment approach and a set of technology solutions for virtual product innovation - all based on expertise derived from IBM's extensive work with customers.

Designed to help auto manufacturers and suppliers more rapidly make the transformation to on-demand businesses, the initiative brings together the combined strengths of IBM's grid software, deep computing systems, storage technologies, virtual product and process innovation, consulting, IBM PLM software applications and ISV partner applications within an integrated solutions framework.

To showcase this new, open initiative, IBM France has also opened its first Centre of Innovation in Montpellier, France.

The centre provides a state-of-the-art computing and consulting services environment that leverages IBM's full breadth of technologies, offerings and thought leadership.

Here, IBM will work with leading software providers and clients alike to develop both standardised and customised approaches to maximise the performance of existing and future CAE tools, techniques and capabilities.

IBM plans to open additional centres of innovation throughout 2005 in key locations around the world.

"IBM is committed to helping our automotive clients address their growing requirements for integrated, secure, cost effective and resilient IT infrastructures that can support rapidly accelerating product-development processes everywhere", said Janette Beauchamp, General Manager, IBM Global Automotive Industry.

"With this new global AEIF initiative - as maximised by our centres of innovation - IBM is leveraging it's expertise, the breadth of its best-in-class offerings and the strengths of its key relationships to help customers optimise and improve the efficiencies of their engineering infrastructures".

IBM is working with leading independent software vendors (ISVs) such as MSC.Software to help apply leading-edge, innovative, on-demand technologies.

MSC.Software and IBM are currently working together on select customer engagements to better couple MSC.Software's advanced simulation data management and process integration capabilities within IBM's framework.

A recent activity between MSC.Software and IBM involves addressing the needs of distributed simulation data management for a European automotive OEM.

The results of this work empower automotive customers with multisite access and management of simulation data to streamline processes and help reduce product development time and costs.

"By bringing together its broad capabilities under a single CAE initiative", said Frank Perna, Chairman and CEO, MSC.Software, "IBM is providing a powerful resource to help automotive companies manage simulation processes and data far more effectively".

"We look forward to working with IBM to advance the AEIF initiative with our global automotive customers".

AEIF can help clients achieve benefits including: streamlined analysis and simulation environments that are correlated with real-world results rather than physical prototyping and testing; increased reuse of knowledge and the sharing of systems that require comprehensive management of all associated data (both graphic and nongraphic) throughout the full product lifecycle; improved cycle times, product quality and innovation with reduced costs; synchronous collaboration across a dynamically changing value chain that provides methodology standards and secure infrastructure while protecting each client's intellectual property; and integrated engineering infrastructures that exploit the power of each client's product lifecycle management (PLM) applications.

As an example of the AEIF initiative's capability, Magna Steyr needed the ability to rapidly evaluate design alternatives during subassembly clash analyses.

IBM designed and delivered a PLM solution based on its grid technology that helped to reduce the time required to capture, compile and analyse clash research data.

Magna Steyr can now analyse components of an entire vehicle in a few hours instead of days, and its employees can now focus more of its attention on product quality and innovation.

The AEIF framework integrates with PLM, from product concept to its retirement, and includes CAD and CAE as well as the integration of the two.

IBM is working with Dassault Systemes on CAD/CAE integration within the architecture as well as the integration of data and process management to link simulation data management with the enterprise.

This announcement will help strengthen the leading position of IBM PLM solutions in the automotive industry.

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