CIMdata, Inc., a leading global product lifecycle management (PLM) strategic management consulting and research firm, announced the formation of an Additive Manufacturing Strategy Consulting Practice to help clients make strategic level business decisions concerning adoption of Additive Manufacturing (AM) methods and techniques into their production processes.

Peter Bilello, President of CIMdata, announced that James White will lead the practice and will have the title Director, Additive Manufacturing Strategy Consulting Practice. “This new practice dovetails directly into our PLM vision and is synergistic with several of our mature practices, including Simulation-Driven Systems Development and Manufacturing Systems Engineering. We don’t see AM as a standalone alternative, but rather as a disruptive new engineering and manufacturing method that impacts many parts of an industrial client’s business processes,” stated Bilello.

James White brings to CIMdata and its clients more than 30 years of PLM, AM/3D Printing, and general manufacturing industry experience. Prior to CIMdata, he held roles in Fortune 1000 software and consulting companies responsible for product management, sales management, strategic alliances, major account management, and business development. He has extensive experience in market development including New Product Introduction (NPI) across various geographies in which he has lived or been responsible. Mr. White’s extensive industry experience includes hi-tech, medical device, software, and heavy industrial, where he gained experience delivering new disruptive products, systems, and solutions.

“Additive Manufacturing is the hot new thing in engineering and manufacturing…or is it?” posed White. “It’s been around a long time, but recent advances in material science, AM machines, product design tools, together with commercial pressures to make things faster/lighter/stronger/cheaper, and to be available when and where needed, yields an exciting new era for AM.”

CIMdata’s AM practice aims to work with industrial companies, and software and service providers to enhance manufacturing and engineering disciplines. With the formation of this consulting practice, CIMdata offers a deep and broad portfolio of strategic management consulting services for industrial organizations and solution providers who offer PLM-enabling business solutions, including PDM, BIM, IoT, 3D visualization, augmented reality, and collaboration solutions, to name a few.

“We see AM in industrial situations as a work stream of PLM; AM doesn’t happen in a vacuum if it’s for industrial purposes,” stated Bilello. “Things need to be considered spanning ideation, simulation, design methodology (for example, generative or conventional design methods), product costing and profitability management, the manufacturing method to be used, and utilization of supply chain management. We expect AM to be adopted in complementary and revolutionary ways,” he added.

A sampling of CIMdata’s AM services and deliverables include:

* Design for Additive Manufacturing (DFAM) study to identify AM readiness; recommendations

* Topology optimization including product complexity and SKU reduction using AM

* Market research, studies, reports, webcasts, education events, and workshops

* Lifecycle event justifications for AM, e.g., logistics, manual touch, inventory, time, and complexity

* IT systems mastering study; where AM production-ready parts should be mastered, accessed, by whom, and how change management occurs

* Proof of Concept (PoC) studies supported by independent AM service providers

Additional CIMdata services that support AM adoption include:

* Defining organizational best practices for manufacturers to deliver content with optimal product design and configuration strategies

* Broadening adoption of PLM processes and solutions to encompass manufacturing facility projects

* Hosting workshops to facilitate education and collaboration among industrial companies and solution providers

* Providing strategic business reviews and planning including growth via merger and acquisitions

* Supporting solution marketing with market research of user requirements and gap analysis

CIMdata’s Additive Manufacturing Strategy Consulting Practice services offer clients pragmatic ways to consider how AM may best be adopted. Successful adoption of AM may yield benefits throughout the business and impact and leverage supporting information technology (IT) systems in different parts of the organization.

Example benefits include:

* Business

o Expand into new areas with new services and products attracting new customers

o Top-line revenue growth, bottom-line cost reduction

* Engineering o Engineering BOM complexity reduction

o Parallel generative and conventional design paths for greater efficiency-for better results

o Optimized designs for downstream consumption through DFAM methodology adoption

* Manufacturing

o More efficient workflows resulting in fewer gaps, re-work loops, less manual touch, and more automation

o Reduced complexity of coordinating people, material, and suppliers due to product complexity reduction (fewer parts needing assembly)

* Supply chain

o Reduced dependence upon suppliers: more on-demand and on-site production of as-manufactured parts (contingent upon as-manufactured digital record availability)

* Field support costs

o More parts replaced not repaired

o Parts more available when and where needed. Product up-time improved and down-time reduced

CIMdata’s AM consulting practice will leverage CIMdata’s more than thirty years of experience serving industrial companies and software and service providers through strategic management consulting, market research and analysis, and best practices education.

CIMdata
www.CIMdata.com