IBM Solutions Partners

RAND Worldwide is one of the world's leading providers of engineering and information technology solutions to manufacturers looking to optimise their Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes. Unlike traditional CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM technologies, PLM provides collaborative infrastructure to define and manage information throughout the complete product lifecycle and across the entire extended enterprise.

As the world's only technology-independent global solutions provider, RAND Worldwide employs over 800 people in more than 80 international sales and client service centers. In addition to our 'best-in-class' technology solutions, RAND Worldwide offers a portfolio of internally developed software products, IT infrastructure, as well as world-class training, professional consulting and implementation services.

At RAND Worldwide, we recognise that our future lies in delivering services and products that solve corporate mission critical problems and increase the profitability of our clients.

Product Lifecycle Management Solutions

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) facilitates a strategic approach to improve the efficiency of product development processes and a company's capability to use product related information.

SMARTEAM, a PLM solution, enables companies to make better business decisions and deliver greater value to customers. It also allows collaboration across enterprise and across geographic boundaries, to improve supply chain communication, business process efficiency, and the ability to innovate.

SMARTEAM allows companies to make a quantum leap in innovative product design. It achieves this by reducing cycle times, streamlining development windows and cutting production costs all at the same time.

SMARTEAM solutions include:

• Collaborative Document Management
• Collaborative Design Management
• Collaborative Workflow/Process and Change Management
• BOM Management and Collaboration
• Enterprise Application Collaboration
• Value/Supply Chain Collaboration

As one of the software that lies at the heart of PLM is CATIA V5. CATIA V5 is the cornerstone of true integration between people, tools, methodologies and resources within an enterprise. Its unique product, process, resource model and workplace approach provide a fully collaborative environment that fosters creativity, knowledge sharing and the communication of 3D product and process-centric definitions.

The ability to capture and reuse knowledge embedded within CATIA facilitates the implementation of corporate design best practices. It also frees end users to concentrate on enhanced creativity and innovation.

Today, the speed at which entire generations of technology become obsolete is forcing companies to get products out of the lab and into the market as quickly as possible. Customers demand innovation, so manufacturers regularly write-off large portions of their unwanted inventory. Product obsolescence and continuing downward pressure on profit margins are hurting the profitability of consumer, industrial and component electronics manufacturers alike. To thrive in this new world, they need new rules and new ways to win. They must manage products throughout their lifecycle to reduce costs, secure first to- market advantage and minimise inventory write-offs.

• Reduce time-to-profit
• Lower product development costs to increase margins
• Create high-quality products ?Enable worldwide collaboration
• Improve integration with supply chain and minimise inventory write-of

Product features or benefit statements

SMARTEAM

• Collaborative Document Management controls the flow of documents in an organisation to ensure quick, easy and secure access to product data in the latest version therefore helps the company in cost savings and saves time.
• Business Process and Change Management automates the workflow and manage the ECO's in a systematic way to keep everyone up to date with the latest information.
• BOM Management and Collaboration drives the latest Bill of Materials structure across the enterprise as well as to supply chain partners to ensure accuracy of product information and getting it out fast to the right people.

CATIA

• Fully integrated suite of Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) applications for digital product definition and simulation. Provides advanced 3D Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions for collaborative product development.
• Open application architecture allows growing number of third-party vendors to create specialised applications to meet user's specific needs. Wide range of built-in capabilities within CATIA ensures reuse of engineering information and best practices thus free users to focus on more innovation and creativity.
• Unique product process resources model and workplace approach provides a truly collaborative environment that fosters creativity, sharing and communication of 3D product and process-centric definitions. This in turn provides businesses a competitive edge with improved time-to-market and cost reductions.