Canadian Aerospace Supplier Héroux-Devtek Integrates Product Lifecycle Management Solution from IBM and Dassault Systèmes

Just 12 weeks into implementation, PLM platform has already improved business collaboration with aerospace manufacturers

Le Bourget, France and Longueuil, Canada – June 16, 2003 – IBM and Dassault Systèmes (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) today announced at the 45th Annual Paris Airshow that Héroux-Devtek, a leading Canadian aerospace supplier specializing in landing gear, has selected their Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions to gain efficiencies and align itself with customer platforms.

IBM PLM Solutions, with CATIA V5 for collaborative product development and SMARTEAMÒ for collaborative lifecycle management developed by Dassault Systèmes, enables Héroux-Devtek to collaborate more efficiently with aircraft manufacturing customers, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, who operate on similar PLM platforms. The new PLM platform also addresses critical capabilities required in the aerospace industry, such as smooth exchange of data and regulatory compliance – including product traceability.

Taking full advantage of the PLM environment, the Héroux-Devtek engineering department will optimize its performance to design, manufacture and build custom-made landing gear and aircraft structural components. The solutions provided by IBM and Dassault Systèmes will provide a seamless flow of information between Héroux-Devtek’s design, production and support business units and those of its customers to further improve productivity and product quality.

”IBM PLM Solutions, with software from Dassault Systèmes, are a natural fit for our aerospace work,” said Nagi Homsy, vice president Engineering, Héroux-Devtek. “With the power of PLM, the engineering department can now manage its growth and become a major player in its field.”

“The CATIA-SMARTEAM solution enables Héroux-Devtek to involve downstream stakeholders in product development from the earliest phases of each project,” said Marcelo Lemos, president of Dassault Systemes of America. “In so doing, the company can leverage its diverse product data and development teams to improve product performance, compress project schedules, and cut costs.”

Implementation services, including education and training for product-related functions, are being carried out by IBM Business Consulting Services working with Dassault Systèmes Services as prime contractor and local business partners Rand and Mecanica. The solutions, all running on Windows-based IBM IntelliStation M Pro workstations, are already successfully managing a variety of CAD design files and bills-of-materials.

The next stage of deployment will include linking SMARTEAM to Heroux-Devtek’s existing enterprise resource planning application, furnishing relevant engineering information to manufacturing, finance, marketing and sales.