SAP and Solidworks

[engAlright]

I am interested in hearing about anyone's experience using the SAP-Solidworks PDM integration tool from GEDAS. I'm particularly interested to hear how you have benefited/not benefited from having SAP integrated to Solidworks in the design department.

Also wondering, if your design department is using SAP for PDM, any challenges that you had introducing it, or any challenges that you are continuing to have with it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Regg]

Like any other program, there are parts that excel and then there are limitations. Some limitations you find work arounds for and others just cause frustration. Since I have nothing to compare it with, I cannot say whether there have or have not been benefites to using the SAP PLM. As for induction challenges, the software only works as well as the training you provide. As for continuing challenges, if one understands the limitations and work arounds, the challenges are not large unless you are trying to check in assemblies containing several under parts and may become almost unbearable when working with assemblies containing over a 1000 parts.

Regards,

Regg

 

[hbenitez]

My dept. uses SAP's PDM. We implemented it about 4 years ago, and it had worked good (not great 'cause the user interface is not the friendliest), until now, when we are moving to Solidworks and are facing the fact that it would be extremely easier if we had something like PDMWorks to handle Engineering dept side of our business process. We are still researching the possibilites and so far Gedas comes on top, as it is a direct connection to SAP and no intermediate databases to maintain

 

[engAlright]

Hbenitez - you mention that it would be a lot easier if you had something like PDMWorks to manage engineering data. What is it exactly that you don't like about the way SAP handles engineering documents? Have you integrated the Solidworks compatibility portion of SAP PDM?

 

[hbenitez]

I've seen demos for PDMWorks and I like the way the relationships, versions, users, revisions, etc. are handled, the interface is very friendly, however the Gedas interface has very similar capabilities although not as graphical. So what I don't like that much is the graphical capabilities. No we have not integrated the solidworks portion, I am not aware of one, or do you mean the Gedas SAP-Solidworks? Please advise
Thanks

 

[engAlright]

Hbenitez -

Thanks for the information. I was referring to the Gedas SAP-Solidworks interface - just wondering what the big factors are in terms of deciding whether to use the GEDAS interface or something else.

Are you managing multiple sites with SAP PLM?

 

[hbenitez]

Sorry about the late response
Our biggest factor was that all other solutions we saw (except the Conisio, but we saw it after the decision had been made)required to run a "parallel" system, duplicating what we already do in SAP; granted that the other solutions might be user-friendlier, but I knew that something like that would not fly in this company. the Gedas integration is very tight and comprehensive enough to the point it will fulfill our needs. we about to close the deal with gedas and seems that we'll start the integration by the end of the month.
only one site

 

[Regg]

Good luck. I hear Gedas is difficult to work with after the sale.

 

[engAlright]

Hbenitez - you mention that every system you looked at except Conisio required you to maintain a "parallel system". What functionality did Conisio have, or how was Conisio set up, such that you didn't require the use of a parallel system?

Please keep us informed as to what is happening with your GEDAS integration - I would be very interested to hear how it goes.

Thanks

 

[hbenitez]

Maybe I mispoke, since I did not procure a demo from them, I can not give details
I just went on what their literature shows. If a "parallel system" has to run, they sure don't make it seem like it is there, the interface and the way the info is presented and handled gives the impression everything is handled thru Windows explorer. I don't know how big of a company you work for, but for a smaller company I'd not hesitate to give it a try, for us we already had SAP running, so we needed something that would have full SAP backup, Gedas is a German company same as SAP. I will keep you informed on how our integration goes.