PLM helps car supplier cut development times

An IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 5, 2006

Korean automotive supplier implements PLM system for product data management, to speed product development cycle-time and to manage multiple OEM customers' projects simultaneously.

Daehan Solution, an automotive supplier in Korea, has deployed IBM and Dassault Systemes' PLM products to increase OEM customer responsiveness and to cut costs, improving its positioning in the market.

Daehan specialises in the design, engineering and manufacturing of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) automotive parts.

Engineering a pleasant-sounding, smooth-riding vehicle has become as important for car makers as enhancing performance or style.

Evaluating the right material from an NVH perspective is critical to design.

The ability to neutralise wind and road noise and match customers' expectations of a quiet ride is a competitive differentiator.

Already a Catia user, Daehan has implemented Smarteam for product data management, to speed product development cycle-time and to manage multiple OEM customers' projects simultaneously.

By enabling Daehan to automate business processes throughout the entire product lifecycle, from planning and design to development and aftersales, this PLM product has helped cut development costs by 20%.

With Smarteam, data from Catia and other design-related 3D programs can be shared in real time, across global engineering teams.

Moving forward, Daehan intends to integrate Catia V5 and Smarteam with its enterprise resource planning system, leveraging its engineering and manufacturing knowledge for greater efficiencies and cost benefits, and for enhanced collaboration with its extended network of partners and suppliers.

"We considered it essential for us to implement Smarteam to shorten new car development times and systematically share the information on various domestic car development processes internally and with our partners", said Chae Soo-kwan, Director of Daehan's central technology research centre.

"Normally, it takes 24 months to develop a new car".

"With these integrated PLM products from IBM and Dassault, we will be able to develop several cars simultaneously and reduce development costs by 20%".

Jemann Park, Sales Executive for PLM at IBM Korea, said: "In the highly competitive global automotive industry, rapid and sustainable innovation has become the only way for suppliers to succeed".

"Our PLM products can enable them to foster business and product innovation internally".

"The result is increased responsiveness to customers' requirements along with higher levels of quality and productivity".

Christian Nardin, Managing Director of Dassault Systemes Asia, said: "Automotive suppliers are under huge pressure to follow OEM-proposed standard procedures, such as advanced product quality planning and process sign off".

"Smarteam provides second-to-none value for enterprise collaboration, data re-use and process automation".

"We are delighted that Daehan has achieved its business goal with our products".