SIGMA S.A. implemented Autodesk PDMC and Autodesk Vault Workgroup to improve workflow

Since 1996, SIGMA SA has been dealing with the system implementation of new solutions in the design and production of machines, devices and comprehensive technologies for the needs of various industries such as mining, waste processing and manual load manipulation. The biggest challenge was to provide a solution that would enable effective remote work of designers in an ordered database, on one CAD design file, eliminating repeated errors and significantly reducing work time. In addition it was important for the client to include other departments of the company into the document flow i.e. technology, supply and quality control.

Reduction of errors made by designers while working remotely on common design files and managing the entire CAD documentation on one server which will ultimately translate into an increase in the quality of prepared projects. Shortening the time of project execution by eliminating technological errors by including the technologist department in the design stage. Training of the staff in the field of work in the Autodesk Vault Workgroup tool and in the use of the entire Autodesk Product Design and Manufacturing Collection including performing advanced simulations using the finite element method using the Autodesk Inventor Nastran solution.

Implementation of the Autodesk Product Design and Manufacturing Collection in the daily work of the company. As part of the possibilities offered by the new software package, the migration from Autodesk Vault Basic to Autodesk Vault Workgroup was carried out thanks to which it became possible to effectively, conveniently and faster remote cooperation (within one data server) of the entire distributed design department and the technology department while working on common CAD files and project documentation. In addition the cleanup and transfer of the "old" CAD file database to the Autodesk Vault software has begun. The life cycles of the current documentation were defined, the level of authorization for groups and users was set and the creation of additional documentation formats (PDF, DXF) was automated. Advanced FEM simulations in the Autodesk Inventor Nastran program which is part of the PDMC have been used in practice.

Thanks to the implemented Autodesk solutions the company significantly improved the process of concurrent work when designing innovative products. It happened with the simultaneous elimination of previously occurring problems in the CAD environment (e.g. overwriting and locking of files) and the level of repeated errors on the line designers and technology department was significantly reduced. After the implementation SIGMA S.A. gained the ability to create more precise and higher-quality projects as well as to produce the company's products faster.

Łukasz Różycki - Head of Project Design & Implementation Department in SIGMA said: “Fast implementation of a customer-ready product has always been a challenge for the Design Department. The skillful use of tools such as Dynamic Simulation and Autodesk Inventor Nastran allows you to carry out the analysis and design calculations stage on a digital prototype while optimizing the structure in a finite number of iterations. The implementation of the project documentation management tool was a necessary process to organize the construction files. Access control, history, the ability to consciously revise files, advanced search, automation of unnecessary project-related activities - these are just a few of the advantages of implementing the system, which in the next step was integrated with ERP to increase the benefits of automated BOM export to other departments of the company involved in the production of the product.”