Capital topic: digital added value for Europe

At the Product Innovation 2017 fair in Berlin, DSC presented integrated value-added solutions for SAP PLM to European representatives of industry and commerce

“Digital Transformation: from Hype to Value” was the motto of this year’s Product Innovation (PI) in Berlin, the only provider-independent PLM congress in Europe – this time from February 27 to 28 in the Hotel Maritim proArte. The main theme was the meaning and benefit of business process digitalization. Under the headings “Extended PLM”, “Digital Transformation” and “Business Enabled Innovation”, experts offered information on current trends and developments. Companies in different sectors also reported on their practical experience, such as with SAP PLM. The event attracted a total of 126 visitors from 88 companies, 51 speakers, and 25 solution providers, who rounded off the congress with a trade exhibition. One of these was DSC Software, whose representatives were very happy with the great interest shown and the number of new potential customers. On the DSC stand and in one-to-one conversations arranged in advance, these visitors were able to discuss individual questions directly with the integration specialists and experience value-added solutions for SAP PLM live – with SAP Engineering Control Center, SAP ECTR, as the center of attraction.

Smart transformation approach

As a strategic integration platform for Industry 4.0, SAP ECTR lays the basis for an SAP-supported digital value-added chain. For via the appropriate interfaces and add-ons, everything necessary can be connected to the SAP system and integrated in SAP PLM: from authoring tools such as MCAD/ECAD or MS Office to parts and tool libraries to CAM and shop-floor systems. In this way, all product data and documents are centrally available and can be logically linked to business processes. And all that in the intuitive SAP cockpit of SAP ECTR, which has even more to offer: convenient overview, editing and search features that simplify product data and document management as well as teamwork and coordination. A change management feature that ensures controlled release and change processes. Or an integrated 2D/3D viewer for visualizing technical drawings and models without a CAD system. Extra benefits are provided by the flexible configuration options and the numerous options for process automation and performance optimization – e.g., using needs-oriented infrastructure modules.

Unique mechatronics support

A complete novelty on the DSC stand at this year’s Product Innovation was SAP ECTR interface to ECAD, a standard interface for the easy connection of ECAD-Software to SAP PLM. This supplements the existing CAD connections for SAP ECTR so that fully integrated mechatronics engineering is now possible. That means: product development data in all engineering disciplines can be managed coherently in the SAP system and linked to business processes. For example, in product development. Here, it is now easier for designers for exchange data such as that for ECAD-MCAD collision checks. Plus: in the SAP cockpit, they have an overall view of their project, e.g. PCBAs with all their components and manufacturing data. SAP PLM ensures that the electronics data synchronizes with that from MCAD, firmware/software and electrics and harmonizes change and release management. The result: shorter development cycles thanks to easier collaboration, coordination and validation; but also smooth follow-up processes, partly due to consolidated product data, BOMs and design releases.

Wide-ranging benefits

With SAP ECTR, product manufacturers can get more out of their SAP system – all down the product lifecycle as well as across all locations. On the one hand, through enormous gains in time and productivity in the individual work areas: e.g. multi-CAD and mechatronics engineering, tool-data and tool-lifecycle management, quality and compliance management or acquisition, production planning and maintenance. On the other hand, through a cross-departmental plus in security, agility and efficiency. Whether through seamless, workflow-based CAD/CAM/DNC processes or continuously consistent data from project planning and development to technical documentation and production to marketing, sales and service. In this way, innovation and competitiveness can be strengthened and potentials for success exploited.