MTU Aero Engines, the big German aircraft engine manufacturer and repair organisation, expects to get considerably more efficient and easier access to unified product data, documents and the rest, as well as global collaboration, from a huge integration project. Brian Tinham reports
MTU Aero Engines, the big German aircraft engine manufacturer and repair organisation, expects to get considerably more efficient and easier access to unified product data, documents and the rest, as well as global collaboration, from a huge integration project.
The firm has placed a eur 15.2m contract with UGS PLM Solutions – the largest-ever in Europe for that company – which will provide its Teamcenter PLM (product lifecycle management) system.
MTU says that standardising on the platform will optimise processes and workflows world-wide for more than 10 million documents and objects handled by over 5,000 users.
As part of the contract, several legacy systems will be replaced, but applications to be integrated include UGS’ Unigraphics NX along with Dassault Systemes’ Catia, SAP ERP and the Microsoft Office environment.
“Our systems are effective by themselves but they lack optimum interaction,” says Erwin Pignitter, vice president information management at MTU Aero Engines. “To take a big step forward we must develop and implement new software which will harmonise the diverse system landscape. Equally important is the chance to enhance our processes.”
“As an innovator in its industry, MTU Aero Engines decided to invest in this project now – despite difficult economic times – thanks in part to process analysis showing significant potential for productivity improvements,” says Georg Wessels, president of UGS PLM Solutions Germany.