These are two acronyms you probably haven’t heard too frequently, but you’ll start to see on a regular basis.
TDP is short for Technical Data Package. The model, drawing, and specs that define the part.
MBE is the Model-Based Enterprise, which is the way to share a richer more inetelligent TDP.
Both of these inter-related topics are starting to gain momentum.
Adobe purchased the PRC technology that enables Acrobat to read multiple CAD formats, yet they appear to be waffling on their commitment…
Hexagon has released as update of DataPage, which provides integration with PC-DMIS, the de facto standard CMM software. DataPage+ provides meaningful way to quickly share CMM data with shop floor appplications such as SPC.
You may have missed it, but Centric Software recently received a patent for PLM collaboration…
The Centric patent provides a unique way to allow the many functional groups that work on a product during its lifecycle to proceed independently through the steps, tasks, decisions and events they must accomplish, confident that as the various product definition evolves, “intelligence” within the system will synchronize the groups and notify them if the decisions of another group will affect them or their plans.
This Dilbert cartoon does a nice job illustrating the challenges integrating business software.
In an interesting development, it appears that a Russian-based software company has created a free, web-based viewer of 2D CAD drawings. The site, known as ShareCAD, claims that the tool can display AutoCAD drawings… While it doesn’t support 3D CAD models or the major CAD formats, it’s a move in the right direction.
The annual SAE AeroTech Conference (sponsored by Boeing) was held in Seattle, Washington last week. This is an annual event where all of the major aerospace companies get together to review the latest technology as well as to update industry standards. There were three days of technical sessions covering topics ranging from the new standards for safety management systems to new design & manufacturing methods.
I attended a presentation from a Boeing engineer talking about lean/cellular manufacturing. While his presentation was informative, I was a little taken aback because these lean principles are techniques that many companies implemented over 10 years ago (perhaps someone should have been talking about 787 supply chain management).
An interesting article in InfoWorld about six ‘transformational’ technologies that went bust. Each of the six technologies has earned the dubious distinction of being over-hyped and falling far short of legendary promises.
Interestingly, many of these happen to be focused on the business market place…
You may have caught the news that Boeing is adding prodution for the 787 outside the Seattle area. The Charleston, South Carolina facility, adjacent to a parts plant Boeing bought in July, will be used along with one in Washington state to build, test and deliver the 787:
“Establishing a second 787 assembly line in Charleston will expand our production capability to meet the market demand for the airplane,” said Jim Albaugh, chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, in the statement. “We’re taking prudent steps to protect the interests of our customers.”
What does it say when a cottage industry blossoms around an enterprise software system, and this industry is focused on reducing the cost of enterprise ownership? Over at the Enterprise System Spectator, the author is offering a webinar to help companies reduce the cost of operating and maintaining their SAP ERP system…
I would suggest that this highlights the questionable return on investment for this overgrown piece of ERP software…