As enterprises venture further into the future of work with AI, IoT, automation and robotics there is still a major challenge that burdens many organizations. That is the simple function of connecting people, processes, and data to collaborate on a project, a design, an assembly, or a document. When a large automotive enterprise identified challenges connecting its internal and external stakeholders, they realized that these challenges were not isolated to a single area but were spread out across the partner ecosystem. For example, they noticed longer than usual lead times, found incomplete requirements, identified inadequate work order submission processes, and uncovered siloed data sources.

For a leading global automotive OEM, seamless collaboration amongst its engineers and external suppliers of automotive body parts is critical as they depend on their partner ecosystem to facilitate key roles in the production process. To address these business requirements and modernize the partner infrastructure, eQ Technologic partnered with Siemens in the development of a state-of-the-art For-Purpose Application to deliver seamless collaboration across a multi-PLM environment hosted on TcX (Teamcenter X, Teamcenter Cloud Instance hosted on AWS Cloud).

Seamless Interaction in a Multi-PLM environment  

Thanks to the eQube®-DaaS Platform, the automotive giant gained:

1. Strength Validation Mechanism of its suppliers:

Restricted access to TcX was enabled which allowed external suppliers to exchange data quickly and securely. This access allowed suppliers to confirm the Automotive OEM’s simulation results for their components, promoting transparency and accountability in the supply chain. Additionally, suppliers could effortlessly upload CAE results to TcX from their local folders, prompting the OEM’s engineers to review and analyze the data on the go and advance to the next steps in the production cycle like performance testing and validation of different components.

2. Automated Assembly Selection & Data Consolidation for MBSE verification:

Assembly selection was automated by creating verification requests in Teamcenter using Parts and Assemblies from Windchill and Enovia. Any Part or CAD data could be verified through a single consolidated Teamcenter instance. Multiple PLMs including-Enovia, Windchill were combined into Teamcenter as the central PLM system. Instead of querying individual PLM systems each time and referring to multiple screens of different PLMs, users can now receive a snapshot in a single screen with the ability to connect to native applications and drill down further on a particular part, file, subassembly, etc. This increased business continuity and reduced manual workloads significantly.

3. Streamlined Part Search:

The For-Purpose App was easy to use and simplified searching for specific Part Numbers or Names across Teamcenter, Windchill and Enovia. Thus, delivering multi-PLM orchestration.

4. Replication of complete Product Assemblies from source systems to one single system:

Product development is traditionally done in a central PLM system and in this case, the central PLM system chosen by the Global Automotive Player was Teamcenter. Structures, Assemblies, and Sub-assemblies from different source PLM systems could be accessed in one central location, in a single UI saving engineers their time and increasing efficiency. eQube®-DaaS integrated different PLMs and helped in orchestrating the replication of product assemblies to ensure business continuity, data quality and overall data transparency and monitoring. Replication of assemblies from Enovia and Windchill to Teamcenter enabled alignment across all PLM systems in use.
 

API-led Integration for a Single Source of Truth 

As enterprises grow and expand it is not only the internal stakeholders that need data and information but also the partner eco-system, supply chain and all the external stakeholders. This creates the demand for a more connected, scalable, secure, and automated integration strategy that enables businesses to move beyond point-based connections to a more holistic API-led integration approach.

This integration approach removes technical barriers to ensure apps, data, and digital assets are connected, and a continuum is established in the business ecosystem. Data producers and consumers are all on the same page with API integrations that generate consistency and reliability in creating a single source of truth.

Interoperability and operational visibility are leveraged through this approach where the entire business landscape of an enterprise is mapped. Enterprises can respond to events in real time with APIs by democratizing data services and removing IT dependencies.
 

Key Features of the For-Purpose Application developed in partnership with Siemens using the eQube®-DaaS Platform include:

1) Seamless User Experience Journey: The Graphical User Interface and API-led integration approach provides users with a seamless experience when accessing data in a multi-PLM application environment.

2) Harnessing the Power of REST APIs: The For-Purpose App leverages REST APIs exposed by the eQube®-DaaS Platform, these APIs serve as the backbone of scalability and adaptability. REST APIs exposed by the eQube®-DaaS Platform with multiple user roles, hierarchies and governed logins simplified the For-Purpose App development.

3) Efficient & Collaborative Data Sharing: Enables suppliers to effortlessly upload CAE results from their local folders to TcX, promoting dynamic data exchange across the partner ecosystem.

4) Managing multi-cloud environment: eQube®-DaaS Platform facilitates the transfer of CAE results and reports data from TcX on AWS Cloud to Teamcenter on Azure Cloud, bridging the gap between different cloud environments.

eQube® Advantage: The Backbone for Digital Transformation

One of the highlighted capabilities of the eQube-DaaS Platform contributing to successful Digital Transformation is its Connectors. OOTB connectors for Teamcenter, Windchill, Excel, and DB, and a custom connector for Enovia enabled users to define workflows and map data graphically. eQ utilized its cutting-edge products, including eQube®-MI, eQube®-AG, and eQube®-TM to bring this transformative solution to life.

eQube®-DaaS Platform, used for the leading Automotive Titan:

• eQube®-MI: Fetched/Extracted data from multiple source PLM systems and loaded it to the Target System.
• eQube®-MI + eQube®-AG: An API Factory, powered by business use cases and backed by the eQube-MI digital backbone, responsibly linked multiple PLMs seamlessly.
• eQube®-TM: Transformation maps enabled effective data federation across the entire PLM landscape.

Thanks to the eQube®-DaaS Platform, the Automotive Behemoth, also a Fortune 500 company has gained successful integration of multi-cloud PLM systems, empowered its engineers to collaborate seamlessly with external partners, automate multiple business processes, and deliver data consistency to all touchpoints. This groundbreaking solution marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a more interconnected, efficient industrial value chain and the future of work. eQ’s commitment to innovation and collaboration is driving the transformation of the automotive industry and shaping the future of digital transformation.