Case Study: Schefenacker

Schefenacker chooses DMC for C3P CAD Data Exchange Service

Siemens PLM I-DEAS software is used by the Ford Motor Company in its C3P concurrent engineering environment, to provide a seamless unification of CAD, CAM and CAE environments at all stages of component, powertrain and vehicle development and manufacturing. Siemens PLM Teamcenter system enables Ford to store C3P CAD data and share it globally, according to very specific Product Information Management (PIM) rules that allow design to take place in a concurrent environment, whilst maintaining a single master CAD file and applying strict controls for the modification and exchange of data on supplier-to-supplier, and supplier-to-Ford bases.

Although direct access to vehicle program data held in Teamcenter offers significant benefits, the process of managing the interface and maintaining the PIM rules is complex, often requiring a dedicated Data Co-ordinator. However, suppliers are now able to use Data Service Providers, such as Majenta Data Services, that allow suppliers to focus on their core design activities, yet still benefit from Teamcenter connection. Prior to deploying a C3P connection via Majenta Data Services, Schefenacker Vision Systems UK Limited interfaced with Ford via a bespoke scripted FTP process across ISDN2e.

Schefenacker is a recognised leader in the design and manufacture of high quality exterior and interior vision systems for high volume and luxury automotive manufacturers. Schefenacker’s vision systems are synonymous with quality, value and innovative, reduced-weight designs – and the company’s commitment to innovation is illustrated by advanced developments, including Information-Centre Interior Mirrors, Camera Function Mirrors, and Rear Object Detection/Blind Spot Control systems. Schefenacker’s UK site has won ‘Factory of the Year’ and ‘Engineering Industry’s Best Factory’ awards.

Paul Spencer, CAE Manager, Schefenacker, explains why the company chose Majenta Data Services to establish and manage its Teamcenter interface: “When we design a component, having access to the very latest information is always a prime concern. There have been instances in the past when we’ve had to change our design and our tooling, and modify manufactured components because we had been working with out-of-date data. So direct access to the Teamcenter vehicle database is vital in helping us to design and manufacture components that fit, first time – every time."

Majenta Data Services ensures that as soon as Teamcenter data changes, we can see the changes that affect our design. They notify us as soon as there is an update and they extract the data and make it available to us. Being kept up to date, and having a comprehensive, managed C3P connection together with PIM support services, are key benefits from Majenta Data Services’s connection service. Our designers are effectively working in a live design environment, and we’re benefiting from continuity of data exchange between multiple vehicle programs.

“Originally, we investigated running the interface internally, but found that we’d need to employ a Data Co-ordinator for at least 2 or 3 days a week – and, after all, it’s not really part of our core design activity. Hence, we decided to outsource the whole task of establishing and managing our Teamcenter interface to Majenta Data Services – and we’ve got no complaints at all. The Majenta Data Services team has a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience. We’ve had to do virtually no work in setting this up ourselves, or in running it, which has meant that we can concentrate on designing and producing vision systems.”

“Costs have also been easier to manage, and we’ve had no need to recruit or train any specialist staff – or worry about replacing them if they leave. Majenta Data Services has totally divorced us from these potential problems. We simply pay a monthly subscription fee and a usage rate to Majenta Data Services and they provide the service – reliably and efficiently.”

The Majenta Data Services service is hosted at Majenta Data Services’s site on one of their own Sun Microsystems™ servers – high performance platforms that offer the levels of reliability and availability essential for mission critical operations.

Paul considers future benefits from the Majenta Data Services service: “The C3P connection opens the door to many opportunities including virtual prototyping and the ability to undertake concurrent engineering across Schefenacker’s different sites. We are now discussing with Majenta Data Services, methods for our engineers in Germany to use our network to view CAD data on a live database here, without actually moving data, or personnel, from one site to another."

“I’m very pleased with the results that we’ve achieved so far and I feel that our use of the C3P connection has helped to develop our relationship with Ford. The managed connection service from Majenta Data Services is excellent. Any doubts that we had about outsourcing the service, have been completely eliminated – in selecting Majenta Data Services, we could not have made a better choice.”