CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
11 December 2007
Product News
Rockwell Automation and Dassault Systèmes to Integrate the Digital Factory and Plant Operations for a Virtual Design & Production Environment
Rockwell Automation and Dassault Systèmes announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a joint solution to make the virtual design and production environment a reality.
The virtual design and production environment more closely links product design to manufacturing and will serve manufacturers, such as those in the automotive industry - addressing the needs of brand owners, tiered suppliers and machine builders. The solution will help enable collaborative mechanical and control design with bidirectional synchronization. As a result, immediate feedback will be available on design changes, thus enabling the testing of various "what if" scenarios in order to continuously optimize manufacturing operations. Customers will benefit, because manufacturing operations will be commissioned faster with optimal production performance.
"Manufacturers are anxiously awaiting a solution that can turn the idea of a virtual design and production environment into reality," said Kevin Roach, vice president of Software, Rockwell Automation. "We see this relationship as a way to make our customers' visions come true in the very near term by capitalizing on the strengths of both the Rockwell Automation Integrated ArchitectureT and Dassault Systèmes' PLM solutions."
"This relationship is a natural fit for both Dassault Systèmes and Rockwell Automation," said Philippe Charles, CEO, Dassault Systèmes Delmia Corp. "The years of development that we have put into our DELMIA Automation solution and that Rockwell Automation has put into its Integrated Architecture make it possible for our two companies to integrate these technologies and provide a joint solution to customers in the very near future."
The joint solution will link manufacturing design to factory-floor control by integrating Rockwell Software RSLogix 5000 control programming and configuration software with DELMIA Automation PLM software from Dassault Systèmes. As a result, manufacturers can expect to reduce the cost of engineering and ramp-up time, and continually optimize their manufacturing operations with an accurate, real-time, simulation model.
Working together with customers, both Rockwell Automation and Dassault Systèmes have created complementary manufacturing engineering technologies, built around strong, object-oriented data models for representing devices and operations. A shared vision between the companies enables a virtual design and production environment, and provides customers with the benefits of collaborative, bidirectional synchronization.
The interplay between design and manufacturing will help increase efficiencies in the design process and ultimately minimize the time between design and delivery. Engineers involved in all stages of design will have the ability to make adjustments in real-time, incorporating, preserving and augmenting knowledge rapidly across various stages of the production life cycle.
About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. is a leading global provider of industrial automation power, control and information solutions that help manufacturers achieve a competitive advantage in their businesses. The company brings together leading global brands in industrial automation which includes Allen-Bradley controls and services and Rockwell Software factory management software. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., the company employs about 19,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.
Become a member of the CIMdata PLM Community to receive your daily PLM news and much more.
Tell us what you think of the CIMdata Newsletter. Send your feedback.
CIMdata is committed to your privacy. Your personal information will never be sold or shared outside of CIMdata without your express permission.