CAD Software provides extended access to design data.
Press Release Summary:
Solid Edge v15 value-based 3D CAD system for mainstream PLM market supports Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services and SQL Server 2000. View and mark-up tools are provided from within Insight Connect, and intelligent design capabilities provide insight into original design intent via knowledge built directly into model. Features for automated parting edge, parting surface, and draft face analysis for mold design are also included.
Original Press Release:
EDS PLM Solutions Launches Solid Edge(r) Version 15, Increasing Customer Ability to "Design with Insight"
Solid Edge Version 15 builds on previous 12 months of revenue growth momentum
PLANO, Texas - EDS PLM Solutions today launched Version 15 of Solid Edge, its industry-leading value-based 3D computer-aided design (CAD) system for the mainstream product lifecycle management (PLM) market. EDS PLM Solutions expects the new release to begin shipping this quarter.
Version 15's launch builds on the more than 10 percent revenue growth Solid Edge has enjoyed in the last 12 months, a period during which many of its competitors have reported revenue declines.
"To be able to grow sales during this challenging economic period is the hallmark of a successful product with strong customer commitment," said Tony Affuso, president and CEO of EDS PLM Solutions. "We look forward to even further expansion of the Solid Edge product in the market as the economic recovery continues and the new features of Version 15 shape the mainstream CAD market."
For Version 15, Solid Edge delivers on the Design with Insight vision by delivering more access to design data, more incorporation of design intent and more industry-specific solutions.
Insight for the Consumers of Design Data
EDS PLM Solutions was the first mainstream CAD system developer to recognize that design data management is an integral part of the design process. Built-in Solid Edge Insight technology remains a far more productive and cost effective solution than the traditional bolted-on PDM approach of the competition. Solid Edge Version 15 is the first application of its kind to support Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services and SQL Server 2000 for unprecedented advantages in performance, scalability, and administration (See EDS Announces Support of the Microsoft Office System, October 21, 2003).
Solid Edge Version 15 extends its lead in collaborative design management by providing view and mark-up tools from within Insight Connect - client software for users of design data - establishing a robust managed environment that makes collaboration easily available to consumers of data throughout the enterprise.
Insight into Design Intent
Maintaining original design intent while meeting time, cost and quality constraints is a challenge faced by all product designers. Solid Edge continues to add increasingly intelligent design capabilities, providing valuable insight into original design intent via knowledge built directly into the model. This approach ensures the original intent is not lost or misinterpreted by personnel who use design data as it moves through numerous stages of the design to manufacture cycle. Solid Edge Version 15 expands the systems design approach established in Version 14 (see EDS PLM Solutions Announces Systems Libraries Capability, March 3, 2003).
Version 15's new interactive physical analysis of mechanisms, adjustable assemblies and assembly features all work together to increase flexibility, preserve design intent and help eliminate even more design errors. Version 15 offers new enhancements to allow manufacturers still using 2D design systems to easily evolve to 3D design to obtain higher levels of productivity.
Insight into Industry Standard Design Processes
Solid Edge provides designers with increased insight to solve design challenges unique to their industry. Solid Edge delivers tools and workflows for industry specific design challenges to accelerate the design process and provide ease of use.
Version 15 expands on the award-winning success of Rapid Blue(tm) (CADENCE Magazine Editor's Choice Award, July 2003) for shape design of consumer products with even more shape creation and analysis capability and powerful new super features for cooling vents and mounting bosses.
Version 15 introduces new features for automated parting edge, parting surface, and draft face analysis for mold design to service tooling suppliers in the plastics-oriented consumer products industry.
Built on a proven foundation, new and enhanced capabilities in the areas of sheet metal, motion and standard parts will appeal to the thousands of customers already designing machinery and equipment with Solid Edge.
Beta Testers, Industry Analysts and Microsoft Comment on Solid Edge Version 15
"Solid Edge is very adaptive, understanding how our systems function," said Solid Edge Version 15 beta tester Emmanuel Nicolas of Rapido in Mayenne, France. "With Version 15 we can now reduce costly engineering change orders by 70 percent compared with our previous 2D design software."
"Early this year we selected Solid Edge because we felt very comfortable with the openness of its organization to customer needs," said Dustin Teschke, engineering systems coordinator at Meikle Automation in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. "Testing V15, we already are seeing the inclusion of features we requested for designing automation equipment."
"The strength of the Insight solution is that it is fully embedded within the Solid Edge application and provides transparent and seamless design management functionality for Solid Edge users that enables managed collaboration," said Peter A. Bilello, a senior consultant at CIMdata, a global PLM consulting and research firm.
"The advancements in (Solid Edge) version 15 extend the company's record of delivering highly efficient, practical, user-focused solutions," said Monica Schnitger, senior vice president of market analysis at Daratech Inc. "Beyond its obvious modeling enhancements, Solid Edge Insight continues to mature into a more robust data management system with each release, giving small to medium sized manufacturers more bang for their buck."
"Companies are adopting design collaboration tools to cut costs and stay competitive through increased efficiency and manageability," said Don Richardson, director, manufacturing industry solutions at Microsoft. "By taking advantage of Window's SharePoint Services and SQL Server technology, EDS PLM Solutions is delivering a solution that can provide greater access to information to help the engineering knowledge worker make accurate and timely decisions."
The Solution
Solid Edge (www.solidedge.com) from EDS is powerful 3D CAD software that allows manufacturing companies to Design with Insight and to reduce time to market, improve quality and lower cost. The exclusive Solid Edge Insight technology embeds design management capabilities directly within CAD, providing insight into design intent to the entire organization and enhancing collaboration. Insight, complemented by Solid Edge's superior core modeling and process workflows, has reduced Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and their related rework by 50 percent or more. The extensive Solid Edge user community is comprised of designers at thousands of companies worldwide, including Alcoa, NEC Engineering, and Volvo. The Solid Edge Voyager Program includes almost 200 integrated engineering software applications and computer hardware solutions.
About EDS PLM Solutions
EDS PLM Solutions is the market leader in product lifecycle management (PLM), providing solutions to the global 1000. Product lifecycle management enables all the people who participate in a manufacturer's product lifecycle to work in concert to develop, deliver and support best-in-class products. As the only single-source provider of PLM software and services, EDS PLM Solutions can transform the product lifecycle process into true competitive advantage, delivering leadership improvements in product innovation, quality, time-to-market and end-customer value. Learn more at eds.com/plm.
About EDS
EDS, the premier global outsourcing services company, delivers superior returns to clients through its cost-effective, high-value services model. EDS' core portfolio comprises information-technology and business process outsourcing services, as well as information-technology transformation services. EDS' two complementary, subsidiary businesses are A.T. Kearney, one of the world's leading high-value management consultancies, and PLM Solutions, a leader in product data management, collaboration and product design software. With 2002 revenue of $21.5 billion, EDS is ranked 80th on the Fortune 500. The company's stock is traded on the New York (NYSE: EDS) and London stock exchanges. Learn more at eds.com.
