Teamcenter PLM enables OCAP Group's unified product data management

A contract with agricultural equipment manufacturer John Deere required Ocap to develop CAD models using PTC Pro/ENGINEER software. A similar requirement was later introduced by automaker Lamborghini.

"We have been using Pro/ENGINEER for OEM product development, while continuing to use I-deas for aftermarket product design and simulation" affirms Jean-Jacques Tomas, Ocap Technical Manager.

"As a result, we ended up with two CAD systems and two major product families developed in parallel using different platforms. We had to manage product data that was partly stored in the I-deas Team Data Manager database and partly in PTC’s PDM Pro/INTRALINK system, which led to rework and duplication issues".

"The situation became even more complex when a new office was established in India, with its own technical department developing designs for both OEM and aftermarket products using Pro/ENGINEER, but without a product data management system. We then began searching for a solution that would allow us to maintain a single, unified database for data generated worldwide using Solid Edge and Pro/ENGINEER, while also providing the scalability needed to support a future factory in China. This unified database was intended to be accessible to all company departments, including personnel working outside the engineering area, to enable research and data visualization".

Ocap conducted a software analysis and selection process that led to the adoption of Teamcenter, the most widely used PLM software in the world, with a large installed base in the automotive industry. “We evaluated several solutions and ultimately chose Teamcenter because it offered the most reliable multi-CAD and multi-site functionality” says Tomas. “Our network connection with India was unstable, so we needed a system capable of adapting to those conditions. Teamcenter provides options for remote site integration as well as seamless interaction with CAD systems from different vendors. These multi-CAD capabilities create a unified repository that allows every unique object to be opened in both modeling systems without the need for data translation”.

Ocap engineers easily adapted to the use of Teamcenter, as well as Solid Edge and Simcenter Femap. “Solid Edge is more intuitive and faster than other CAD packages, so we use it extensively for both aftermarket and OEM products" says Tomas. “Using Simcenter Femap, we can perform quick simulations to check the stress values of our parts and ensure we are on the right path from the early stages of product development. Simcenter Femap allows us to validate our design choices quickly and intuitively and determine whether corrective action is needed.”

Ocap has uploaded all its design data to Teamcenter and has also begun migrating documents, images, photographs, and other materials from different departments. “The migration process did not require any customization. We simply used the standard Teamcenter functionality”, concludes Tomas.

• Multi-CAD environment consolidated to a flexible PLM infrastructure.
• Realization of a single database, accessible by the entire organization