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News Release from: PTC - Parametric Technology (UK) | Subject: Windchill MPMLink
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 05 June 2007
Software module manages manufacturing
The development of Windchill MPMLink began with PTC's acquisition of Polyplan in June 2005.
PTC has launched Windchill MPMLink, an integral module of Windchill 9.0, for manufacturing process management (MPM) The development of the new solution began with PTC's acquisition of Polyplan in June 2005
Since then, PTC has redeveloped the solution as a fully integral module of Windchill that is being launched as part of Windchill 9.0, the latest release of PTC's production-proven content and process management software.
Being able to manage and optimise MPM in the same system that is used to develop the products is essential to enabling concurrent product and manufacturing process definition.
With a concurrent and optimised MPM system, manufacturers can significantly reduce manufacturing costs and time to market.
Transforming engineering designs into bills of materials (BOMs) and manufacturing processes has typically been a cumbersome process that only begins late in the product design lifecycle.
Windchill MPMLink is different from other manufacturing process management solutions because it focuses on the daily core issue of managing process plans and resources without requiring complex, expensive, simulation-focused tools.
Windchill MPMLink allows manufacturing engineers to develop manufacturing processes from the same product information that's being defined by engineering, eliminating the problems inherent in creating and maintaining duplicate product information.
By easily transforming engineering BOMs (eBOMs) into manufacturing BOMs (mBOMs) and defining and managing the manufacturing processes in the same system, companies can ensure that the product will be accurately manufactured according to design specifications.
With an integral system, manufacturers can have a single end-to-end change management process across engineering and manufacturing.
With the digital manufacturing capabilities of Windchill MPMLink, manufacturers can reduce manufacturing costs, improve product and data quality, reduce scrap and rework, improve accuracy of manufacturing deliverables, and shorten development cycle time by concurrently developing the product designs and the manufacturing processes.
This is especially important to manufacturing industries that must continually deliver new, innovative products with extreme cost and time to market pressures.
PTC worked with customers in key vertical markets to define the capabilities of Windchill MPMLink and ensure it would meet the needs of manufacturing companies around the world.
"Windchill MPMLink is an example of PTC's commitment to delivering product development solutions that enable its customers to optimise our engineering and manufacturing processes", said Ron Watson, Global Product Data Manager, ITT.
"Because Windchill MPMLink is an integral part of Windchill, I don't have to worry about integration issues or problems with incompatible versions".
"Product development solutions like these enable us to remain competitive in our market".
"Digital manufacturing is a key component of PLM and is essential for any manufacturing company that wishes to pursue a comprehensive product development strategy", said James Heppelmann, Executive Vice President software products and Chief Product Officer, PTC.
"Windchill MPMLink is the only digital manufacturing solution that delivers an integrated approach to engineering and manufacturing processes".
"Based on the Windchill architecture which enables seamless connection to product design, process planning, resource management, configuration management and dynamic publishing, Windchill MPMLink is a flexible solution for organisations that want to extend their PLM initiatives".
Windchill MPMLink is part of the Windchill product family and will be available as part of Windchill 9.0, currently planned for September 2007.
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