Siemens integrates virtual planning with physical production

New software seamlessly passes manufacturing planning information from Teamcenter PLM to motion control information system (MCIS) for machining operations

Siemens has announced a new software solution that integrates manufacturing planning with the shop floor machining operations associated with producing parts. The new offering maximises productivity by tightly linking Teamcenter software from Siemens PLM Software with Motion Control Information System (MCIS) from Siemens Motion Control Systems, to ensure digital planning data is accurately and efficiently delivered to the precise point of manufacturing.

“In 2007 Siemens announced a unique software vision to unify the global manufacturing industry’s product and production lifecycles by leveraging the synergies between its newly acquired PLM (product lifecycle management) business and other business units in the Siemens Industry Automation Division,” said Peter Thorne, Managing Director, Cambashi Ltd. “Today’s announcement – the result of a collaborative effort between the PLM and Siemens Motion Control organisations – is part of that vision and should create significant value for their customers.”

Manufacturing companies need to ensure that there is an effective connection between manufacturing engineering and shop floor production in order to avoid common errors that lead to production delays, excessive scrap and redundant resources. If data is inaccurately transferred from one system to another or if the data is sent to the wrong location, it can have a significant impact on schedules, costs and product quality. This can be especially common in environments that produce many different products with small production runs and flexible machine tool assignments, or where modifications to the part design and its related machining program are common, creating multiple changes that need to be tracked, coordinated and delivered to the right place at the right time. Creating the wrong version of a part wastes expensive time and material, while the lack of complete information about the availability and location of specific tool assemblies forces an inefficient use of tooling resources.

The announcement unites the manufacturing process management module of Teamcenter, the world’s most widely used PLM portfolio, with two MCIS solution components – Direct Numerical Control (DNC) and Tool Data Information (TDI). The new solution allows companies to manage the process of delivering the correct manufacturing data – such as NC part programs created by computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software, or tool availability information – from a central information management and planning environment to the proper physical manufacturing location on the shop floor.

“When Siemens acquired UGS Corp., one of the industry’s leading PLM software and services companies, we committed to producing solutions that would merge the virtual world of PLM software with the physical world of shop floor production,” said Chuck Grindstaff, executive vice president of Products and Chief Technology Officer, Siemens PLM Software. “By integrating Teamcenter and MCIS we are delivering on that vision with a solution that will help companies reduce production time and costs and improve product quality by ensuring close coordination between manufacturing planning and shop floor production."

The Teamcenter to MCIS interface is available immediately from Siemens PLM Software.