Magove S.A. Capitalizes on Integrated File Sharing and Data Management: PDM Capability within Alibre Design Cuts Delivery Time in Half
Magove S.A. Capitalizes on Integrated File Sharing and Data Management: PDM capability within Alibre Design cuts delivery time in half
Richardson, TX September 12, 2006 -- "The real question," asks Gasper Acevedo of Magove, S.A., when he talks about the Alibre Repository, a PDM file-sharing technology included with Alibre Design, "is why didnt we use this before?"
For years the engineering firm has been using Alibre Design, the popular 3D parametric CAD software, for all its automotive and machinery designs. By switching to 3D modeling, Magove increased its efficiency and could take on projects with greater three-dimensional complexities, like gauging. Magove, however, had not yet explored the workgroup file management and collaboration capabilities that came with its Alibre Design licenses. All this time, Magove had access to a secure, 100 MB Repository on the Alibre server, ideal for sharing files between multiple designers both on and off-site.
Alibre enables the Repository in Alibre Design Professional and also grants server storage with each Alibre Design Expert license. Repository access is integrated in the user interface along with other online collaboration features, such as real-time Team Design(TM), instant messaging, and expert assistance via the Alibre Assistant. In effect, this file sharing power gives small businesses like Magove the same advantages that complex and expensive enterprise Product Data Management (PDM) systems give larger firms. For instance, Alibre Repository maintains a complete version history allowing design changes to be tracked and reviewed. It also provides the ability to assign access rights, such as read and write, to designs, drawings, Bills of Materials (BOM), etc., to ensure that only the right people get access to sensitive design data. Alibre Design Repository also supports check-in/check-out, enabling multiple individuals from the same or different departments to simultaneously work with project data including 3D models, 2D drawings and other related documents, such as engineering change orders or BOMs without conflicts.
Acevedo, engineering manager at Magove, implemented file sharing on the many gauge designs Magove creates for automotive clients such as General Motors and Volkswagon. The gauges Magove designs are used to fit and physically model air conditioning tubing and other conduit systems through a vehicle assembly. When Acevedo and his staff finally put Alibre Repository to good use, they found they could halve the time from design to delivery.
"These changes in the way we do things have saved us time in a measurable way -- by 50 percent. That's a real number," Acevedo emphasizes. "It takes us half the time to design and build gauges now, with no extra effort or extra cost -- just due to file sharing. Its amazing."
"I think there are a lot of people who might be familiar with the modeling power of Alibre Design, but still aren't aware of all of the powerful collaborative features, like Alibre Repository," says Alibre CEO Greg Milliken. "Even for small businesses with only a few seats of Alibre Design, it's a tremendous benefit. The Repository allows designers to work on different aspects of a design simultaneously, even in separate locations, without any extra investment in software or hardware, because it's already part of the Alibre Design application. The results Magove has seen by incorporating the capability into their production process, reducing their time to market by half, are not uncommon."
"The time savings really multiplies considering the many gauging projects we do each year," concluded Acevedo. "And to think we could have been doing this all along. For years, we thought file sharing and data management was something that was hard to set up. Thanks to Alibre Design, it wasnt at all."
About Alibre
Alibre Inc. develops and markets Alibre Design(TM), the fastest growing parametric 3D solid modeling software for mechanical design and manufacturing. One-fifth the cost of comparable software, Alibre Design delivers quick ROI, ease-of-use, rich functionality and unique real-time support, and is enabling small and medium-sized businesses and workgroups to put 3D CAD on every engineer's desk, similar to utilities like Word or Excel. Alibre also delivers Alibre Design Xpress, the industry's only true 3D parametric modeler available free of charge. Alibre Design is available in thirteen languages and distributed worldwide. Founded in 1997, Alibre Inc. is privately funded and based in Richardson, Texas. For more information and for a free trial of Alibre Design, please visit www.alibre.com.
About Magove S.A.
Magove S.A., a Mexican firm specializing in machinery and equipment, has been providing effective industrial solutions to the needs of its clientele since 1972. Magove develops custom-designed machinery, robotic cells, and tube gauge dimensioning. For more information, visit www.magove.com.
