EMAK Relies on IBM and Dassault Systèmes for Strategic Product Lifecycle Management Project

Outdoor power equipment manufacturer to improve time-to-market and cut costs using IBM PLM Solutions

Bagnolo in Piano, Italy and Paris, France – November 4, 2003 – IBM and Dassault Systèmes (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) today announced that EMAK, a worldwide supplier of outdoor power equipment for lawn and garden maintenance, has signed a contract for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions and services.

IBM PLM Solutions, with CATIA V5, the world’s leading virtual product development platform, and SMARTEAM for collaborative product data management, developed by Dassault Systèmes, will enable EMAK to improve its product development processes and its ability to use product-related information to make better business decisions and deliver greater value to customers.

The EMAK PLM project, launched in June, is expected to produce its first results by the end of the year. The main benefits of the PLM project will be: greater efficiency by reducing the time-to-market; lower design and engineering change costs; increased re-use of corporate knowledge; improved customer service; and better collaboration with suppliers through collaboration and information sharing.

“When designing a new product, the first steps are the most critical because there are many unknown factors relating to the product and how to manufacture it,” said Marco Pederzini, head of the PLM program at EMAK, “Using PLM applications from IBM and Dassault Systèmes, we are able to simulate a product from the very first stages while it is still relatively easy and inexpensive to introduce design modifications. By simulating and analysing various designs, we can optimize product quality, streamline our production, and cut costs.”

In the initial stage of the project, the IBM PLM solutions running on IBM Intellistations will be implemented within the technical department. The long-term goal, however, is to extend the platform throughout the company, including the extended supplier network.

“EMAK’s decision to implement an IBM PLM platform is based on market-proven business benefits derived from the solutions,” said Gianluca Gonella, IBM PLM South Region Manager. “This project confirms the close relationship between EMAK and IBM and underscores the importance of a collaborative workplace for gaining competitive advantage. IBM will continue to support EMAK in its endeavour to increase productivity, build more innovative products and better address customer demand.”

The benefits of our PLM solutions will be dramatic for EMAK,” said Denis Senpéré, vice president PLM Europe, Dassault Systèmes. “With CATIA V5, EMAK engineers will be able to optimize their product designs, share data, and reuse existing product knowledge. With SMARTEAM, they will manage technical documentation, engineering change processes, and engineering BOMs. The result will be improved product quality, shorter development cycles, and lower costs.”