Oyster Marine sets sail on PLM voyage with Catia V5

The company, which makes some of the most up-market sailboats available and has twice been awarded The Queen’s Award for Industry, has bought six seats of the shipbuilding version through Dassault partner Transcat PLM UK. It now hopes to speed up innovation and reduce time to market by introducing more automation in its design and manufacturing processes. For example, the firm says it intends to set up managed links between engineering drawings, the BoMs (bills of materials) and all phases of manufacture, including CNC (computer numerical control), used to make its hull and deck moulds. “Evolution is the driving force in the design process, and for us traditional CAD had reached its limitations,” says Oyster Marine managing director Alan Brook. “We are committed to learning, innovating and producing the world’s best yachts, and have chosen Catia V5 because it is the world’s best PLM system. It’s a perfect fit.” Oyster Marine has already introduced synchronous collaboration so that everyone involved in a project – internally and at its suppliers – uses the same version of the drawings. The objective there is to reduce production hours and to capture design, engineering and process knowledge, and embed it into manufacturing in order to improve efficiency, quality and accuracy. Meanwhile, for review and mark-up Oyster Marine will use 3D XML throughout – from the design department right through its partners and suppliers, to communicate 3D information. The firm makes the point that incorporating rich PLM information into technical documents, marketing brochures and other communications using 3D XML will also help make it more agile and responsive to market demands.