PDM

We currently use SolidWorks & SmarTeam (PDM) along with Oracle.
We will be phasing in and using Pro/E - Wildfire & Windchill over the
next 3 years, therefore, below is a list of concerns I'm attempting to
gather information on:
Can/Does Windchill handle native SolidWorks files?
If so, are there any restrictions or known problems?
Does Windchill have any established hooks for Oracle?

I used Pro/E from 1989 till 1997:
Has the basic workings of the software changed that much?
Does it run on windows w/o a shell?
Has the interface evolved at all to become more intuitive/user
friendly?

Lastly, if I need to create parts, assemblies & drawings, do I need to
purchase multiple modules or just one package?

I would really appreciate any feedback at all. Also, I do not perceive
having any problems myself but I will be responsible for
configuration, set-up, training, support & maintenance of 3 to 4 sites
and approximately 100 users. So once again, all comments are welcome.

 

We currently use SolidWorks & SmarTeam (PDM) along with Oracle.
We will be phasing in and using Pro/E - Wildfire & Windchill over the
next 3 years, therefore, below is a list of concerns I'm attempting to
gather information on:
Can/Does Windchill handle native SolidWorks files?
If so, are there any restrictions or known problems?
Does Windchill have any established hooks for Oracle?

I used Pro/E from 1989 till 1997:
Has the basic workings of the software changed that much?
Does it run on windows w/o a shell?
Has the interface evolved at all to become more intuitive/user
friendly?

Lastly, if I need to create parts, assemblies & drawings, do I need to
purchase multiple modules or just one package?

I would really appreciate any feedback at all. Also, I do not perceive
having any problems myself but I will be responsible for
configuration, set-up, training, support & maintenance of 3 to 4 sites
and approximately 100 users. So once again, all comments are welcome.
Positive answers to all the questions you raise is fundamental to deciding to migrate to Windchill PDMLink and Wildfire. If the decision's been made, I have to assume that these questions have already been answered. Since I've seen these migrations take place in a number of places, I'm also pretty confident that your management has contracted professional help from PTC to plan and execute the migration. You, as a major stakeholder, should have been deeply involved from Day One. However, whether you were or not, you very seriously need the name of someone at PTC to talk to to get straight, detailed answers to all these questions. This is a very large, very complicated operation we're talking about; you should not only be talking to PTC but be taking admin courses. There're nearly a dozen covering all aspects of the PLM which may, to some extent, be already familiar, conceptually, from your involvement with Teamcenter. As to the scale, let's be clear: Windchill PDMLink and ProjectLink are corporate software for controlling the creation, release and retirement of every piece of digital data that every individual in every group using any and every piece of software that's business related (outside of email) produce to direct production. It works conjointly with the MRP system and in one implementation scenario, takes the product structure directly from it. It includes a module for communicating and coordinating with the MRP system. In fact, the implementation scenarios are so varied and so configurable that a large-scale plan, with goals and bench marks, is required and one that's been established at the highest management levels with buy in from all the stake holders. So, what I'm saying, in short, is that this is all much too big, much too expensive, much too complex for casual conversation.

David Janes

 

<---Clip<---
Positive answers to all the questions you raise is fundamental to
deciding to migrate to Windchill PDMLink and Wildfire. If the
decision's been made, I have to assume that these questions have
already been answered. Since I've seen these migrations take place in
a number of places, I'm also pretty confident that your management has
contracted professional help from PTC to plan and execute the
migration. You, as a major stakeholder, should have been deeply
involved from Day One. However, whether you were or not, you very
seriously need the name of someone at PTC to talk to to get straight,
detailed answers to all these questions. This is a very large, very
complicated operation we're talking about; you should not only be
talking to PTC but be taking admin courses. There're nearly a dozen
covering all aspects of the PLM which may, to some extent, be already
familiar, conceptually, from your involvement with Teamcenter. As to
the scale, let's be clear: Windchill PDMLink and ProjectLink are
corporate software for controlling the creation, release and
retirement of every piece of digital data that every individual in
every group using any and every piece of software that's business
related (outside of email) produce to direct production. It works
conjointly with the MRP system and in one implementation scenario,
takes the product structure directly from it. It includes a module for
communicating and coordinating with the MRP system. In fact, the
implementation scenarios are so varied and so configurable that a
large-scale plan, with goals and bench marks, is required and one
that's been established at the highest management levels with buy in
from all the stake holders. So, what I'm saying, in short, is that
this is all much too big, much too expensive, much too complex for
casual conversation.

Thank you David,

As I mentioned, this is a 3 year plan and yes it is a serious
undertaking. I am currently the CAD Manager for SolidWorks and I am
deeply invloved in the PDM (SmarTeam) aspects as well. We have a DBA
on site for SmarTeam so it will be her & I who will be responsible fof
putting together and successfully executing the overall plan. As
mentioned, I have previous experience with Pro/E and have been working
in CAD-CAE-CAM-PDM environments for 20plus years.

Knowing this, I am still keenly aware of the work to be done. Right
now we are in the information gathering stage and yes we will be
delving much deeper as time goes by.

So, once again, thank you. I will be posting many more questions here
and hope to hear from you again.

Regards,
Eddie

 

<---Clip<---
Positive answers to all the questions you raise is fundamental to
deciding to migrate to Windchill PDMLink and Wildfire. If the
decision's been made, I have to assume that these questions have
already been answered. Since I've seen these migrations take place in
a number of places, I'm also pretty confident that your management has
contracted professional help from PTC to plan and execute the
migration. You, as a major stakeholder, should have been deeply
involved from Day One. However, whether you were or not, you very
seriously need the name of someone at PTC to talk to to get straight,
detailed answers to all these questions. This is a very large, very
complicated operation we're talking about; you should not only be
talking to PTC but be taking admin courses. There're nearly a dozen
covering all aspects of the PLM which may, to some extent, be already
familiar, conceptually, from your involvement with Teamcenter. As to
the scale, let's be clear: Windchill PDMLink and ProjectLink are
corporate software for controlling the creation, release and
retirement of every piece of digital data that every individual in
every group using any and every piece of software that's business
related (outside of email) produce to direct production. It works
conjointly with the MRP system and in one implementation scenario,
takes the product structure directly from it. It includes a module for
communicating and coordinating with the MRP system. In fact, the
implementation scenarios are so varied and so configurable that a
large-scale plan, with goals and bench marks, is required and one
that's been established at the highest management levels with buy in
from all the stake holders. So, what I'm saying, in short, is that
this is all much too big, much too expensive, much too complex for
casual conversation.

Thank you David,

As I mentioned, this is a 3 year plan and yes it is a serious undertaking.

Serious is as serious does: get professional help; it's the only serious approach, considering the size of the task you face.

I am currently the CAD Manager for SolidWorks and I am
deeply invloved in the PDM (SmarTeam) aspects as well. We have a DBA
on site for SmarTeam so it will be her & I who will be responsible fof
putting together and successfully executing the overall plan. As
mentioned, I have previous experience with Pro/E and have been working
in CAD-CAE-CAM-PDM environments for 20plus years.

We're all die-hard romantics and completely in love with you FBSP Heroes.


Knowing this, I am still keenly aware of the work to be done. Right
now we are in the information gathering stage and yes we will be
delving much deeper as time goes by.


Delve deep: "Life is like box of chocolates.... "

David Janes