Tesla Motors streamlines electric drive with PLM

Tesla's Paul Lomangino explains that the company started by implementing the Enovia V6 'collaboration solution'. Improvements and predefined templates in the latest release enabled a successful pilot in just over one month, he says – paving the way for the production implementation, for which Tesla has been working with Dassault Systèmes' partner Idex Solutions. "The Dassault Systèmes platform provides the unique ability to allow close collaboration across divisions, align the expertise from all domains and share data effectively," comments Lomangino. "We are now able to optimise the design and development process, facilitating concurrent development and validation across vehicle systems," he adds. Phase two will be later this year, involving Dassault's Delmia digital manufacturing solution and Lomangino says future phases will also migrate Tesla's product authoring solution from Catia V5 to Catia V6. Tesla is also using Catia Icem for Class A surfacing and Delmia Human for occupant ergonomics, as well as other solutions from Dassault software partners. Tesla initially went for Catia PLM Express and Enovia SmarTeam in 2007. Since then, the company has piloted several Dassault and partner systems, leading to today's upgrade specifically for the upcoming Model S sedan. Lomangino says that Delmia will be used to optimise production processes at Tesla's manufacturing facility in Fremont, California.