posted on 12/14/2011 4:07:22 PM
DISCUS Software’s new Connect application lets users share technical product data and inspection reports, typically stored on the desktop, with suppliers and enterprise applications.
DISCUS Software, a provider of engineering and quality management products, has announced a companion application to its flagship desktop tool that is said to improve collaboration in the supply chain and ease integration with enterprise software.
DISCUS Connect features a Web-based interface that facilitates sharing of technical data among departments and suppliers. According to the company, a dashboard tracks the status of manufacturing and quality planning in real time with key performance metrics to streamline workflow and ensure consistency.
The software works with the company’s DISCUS Desktop product for use on Windows workstations. The desktop system enables a user to work with a product part model or drawing to identify its technical data package, including specific parts and requirements contained in the models, drawings, and specifications.
Essentially, DISCUS Desktop creates a “Bill of Characteristics” for a part that helps reduce time and labor during inspection, process planning, and production analysis, the company said. For example, DISCUS can enable a manufacturing engineer to interrogate the 3D CAD model and apply manufacturing process knowledge to ensure that the transition from design to production is more efficient, costs are reduced, and quality is maintained.
DISCUS Connect extends the desktop application with the ability for multiple users to manage reports and review plans and quality performance of the supply chain, in real time. In addition, it is said to act as an integration point between DISCUS Desktop and ERP or product data management (PDM) applications.
According to a company spokesperson, “Many companies have tried to adapt their ERP system or quality management software to enable characteristic management. It’s been relatively expensive and clumsy, but most important, the Web-based tools have not necessarily helped the suppliers to be more efficient. With a DISCUS Desktop and Connect solution, users gain a streamlined interface to work efficiently with the 3D CAD models and 2D drawings.”
DISCUS Connect, which can be deployed behind a firewall or accessed in a cloud model, stores the intelligent technical data package—including part requirements and results at a characteristic level of detail—in a centralized server, which according to the company, provides better security, easier access, and advanced reporting capabilities. When users log in to the server, for example, they can review workflow notifications and performance status, and approve requirements about a part. Optional add-on modules provide customizable workflows, configurable dashboards, and advanced integration.