Access Control Manufacturer Automatic Systems chooses Product Lifecycle Management solution from IBM and Dassault Systemes

Leading producer of vehicle and pedestrian access control systems targets 30 per cent reduction in product development time using PLM solutions.

Paris, France, July 9, 2002 - Automatic Systems, a world leader in secure access equipment (tolls, turnstiles, barriers) today announced its decision to use Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions from IBM and Dassault Systemes (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), including CATIA Version 5 for product design and SMARTEAM solutions for product data management. Automatic Systems will use the PLM solution to optimize design and data exchanges between its sites in Belgium, France, and North America, and plans to extend this new e-collaboration platform throughout its international subsidiaries.  

In September 2001, Automatic Systems began trials to identify the most appropriate 3D virtual design application and consulted approximately ten companies. The objective was clear:

· unify systems in Europe and North America;

· invest in more powerful and flexible solutions capable of running Windows NT

· migrate existing product data library of over 30,000 designs onto the selected new tool (which had to be compatible with the existing ERP system).

Ultimately, the goal of Automatic Systems was to set up a true PLM approach to manage the company’s entire product portfolio across multiple business units and functional areas. Automatic Systemes eventually chose PLM solutions from IBM and Dassault Systemes: CATIA V5 and SMARTEAM for that mission.

Jean-Philippe De Groote, general manager of Engineering at Automatic Systems said, "User-friendliness, the performance of CATIA’s various functions, and the possibility of integrating electronic elements made all the difference. With SMARTEAM, our entire company can exchange and share product data, not only between the engineering and design departments of the group and our subsidiary companies (Belgium, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, the United States, Canada) but also within departments, such as purchasing, production, marketing documentation, and soon even with customer support and other service departments.”  

The choice to go with an IBM-Dassault Systemes PLM solution was based on more than the superior performance of CATIA V5 and SMARTEAM. Automatic Systems, with 300 employees, wanted a company familiar with Small and Medium Businesses (SMB). "We looked for a reliable company that we can trust and knows how to help smaller companies with the complexities of PLM,” said De Groote. “We also needed IBM's global reach and the local training and implementation support provided by IBM and its Business Partner DVF."

 

Klaus Schaefer, vice president Europe Middle East Africa, IBM Product Lifecycle Management said, “Automatic Systems has chosen an integrated PLM-approach that has been endorsed by a growing number of global manufacturing enterprises, including other small and medium sized businesses.  With the most powerful software applications combined with robust hardware and competent business partners, IBM helps companies of all sizes fully comprehend and leverage PLM technology and methodology to further their own competitive advantage.”

Pierre Balza, director of sales France and Benelux Dassault Systemes, says, “Thanks to the combined use of CATIA Version 5 and SMARTEAM solutions, Automatic Systems will be able to innovate, share relevant data between teams and departments, reuse them, and increase market reactivity.”

By May 2002, fifty per cent of stations were in place and the entire research and development pole was operational in the new environment.  This month, the mechanical engineering and design departments are migrating to the PLM platform.