DBSolidEdge from Mechworks for PDM 2

[notsofast]

thread562-390351

We are long time Solid Edge users looking to upgrade our CAD file management software. For the past dozen years or so we have been managing our CAD data with Insight, however this solution is becoming untenable as we have outgrown its file management capabilities. We are also interested in implementing a change management process (i.e. ECR, ECO workflows) and have been focusing on products that will give us this functionality without requiring a major amount of time or resources to manage the software. We've looked at several products as follows:

Teamcenter
Aras
Mechworks (DBSolidEdge)
Windchill

We are currently leaning in the direction of Mechworks (DBSolidEdge) for a couple of reasons...it appears to require minimal administrative support, the interface is fairly straight forward, and the cost of ownership is attractive compared to the other products mentioned. Mechworks is also a certified Partner with Siemens and works directly with native Solid Edge files.

My question is are there any current users of Mechworks (DBSolidEdge) who would like to comment on their experience with this PDM solution (or any other they wish to comment on)?

http://www.mechworks.com/

Regards,
Matt

 

[swertel]

I haven't worked with DBSolidEdge, but I do have two questions.
1) The free version of Aras doesn't have the functionality you require?
2) Have you looked into Kenesto? Or are cloud apps out of the question?

For what it's worth, I agree with your conclusion to not continue forward with either Teamcenter or Windchill. At this time, they are too costly, too difficult to administer, too difficult to use and train, and you still have the issue of version compatibility to worry about.

To delve a bit deeper, what does your change management process look like now?
Would the built-in data management tools with ST9 work?
Have you looked at software like CMPro?
What integrations are important to you: CAD, CAM, FEA, ERP, MRP, MES, etc.?
(OK, so more than 2 questions.)

--Scott
www.aerornd.com

 

[notsofast]

Scott,
1. We did take a look at Aras, and at first glance it looked pretty good. The "gotcha" moment happened when we realized that there was an additional and significant cost for the CAD connector license from a third party provider. I was not aware that there was a "free" version of Aras.
2. We are not interested in using a cloud based option.
3. SE Insight does not have a change control workflow, so basically we use it to store models and drawings in a vault. There is a status control for these files, but we opted not to use this feature.
4. The built in file management in ST9 do not offer change control workflows.
5 Integrations are mainly for CAM, but we are doing more FEA as well.

Since my original post, we've also taken a look at SMAP 3D and DDM. Both have a clean look and appear to be somewhat user friendly, however SMAP 3D has not integrated a control management workflow. FWIW, neither of the later have US based support.

Regards,
Matt

 

[bshand]

My very limited understanding is that some users of Insight have implemented workflows with the SharePoint component. Having no need for that or further knowledge that's all I can say about it.

 

[davemerritt]

The statement "change control workflow" is very open ended and broad. Insight using SharePoint functionality has the potential for some limited change control workflows, and as bshand has stated, some customers have been successful with this. Now whether or not that offers enough of a solution is the real crux.

http://about.me/davidmerritt