Engineering teams often spend more time than they realize on repetitive tasks. Creating part numbers, completing drawing information, updating related properties, modifying design parameters and features, and checking data for accuracy may only take a few minutes at a time. Across multiple engineers, projects and working days, however, that effort quickly adds up.
Manual processes can also lead to inconsistent information and avoidable errors. When incorrect data moves further downstream, the cost of identifying and correcting it can be significantly higher.
In a recent webinar, xLM’s Jordan Wrigley and I explored how Enterprise Knowledge Language, commonly known as EKL, can be used to automate and validate processes in CATIA and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
What is EKL?
EKL is Dassault Systèmes’ proprietary language for creating rules, scripts and business logic within CATIA and 3DEXPERIENCE. It can help organizations reduce manual work, guide users through important processes and apply business requirements more consistently.
EKL can run in different areas of the platform, depending on the process being addressed. It can interact directly with a CATIA native application session or support server-side rules that are triggered by specific events. This flexibility makes it useful for a wide range of engineering and product lifecycle management requirements.
The challenge is not simply deciding whether a process can be automated. It is determining which processes should be automated and how to implement that automation in a way that is practical, maintainable and aligned with the business.
Practical examples of EKL automation
During the webinar, we demonstrated several examples based on common customer requirements.
One example focused on intelligent part numbering. Instead of relying on users to manually create numbers in the correct format, EKL can apply predefined logic and automatically generate the appropriate value.
We also looked at drawing automation, including ways to streamline the creation of title blocks and revision information. Drawing requirements can vary by business unit, customer, product or project. A well-designed automation can help users create the correct output while reducing repetitive work.
Other examples included keeping related properties synchronized, assigning information based on user selections and mapping metadata from CATIA V5 into 3DEXPERIENCE during a data migration.
These examples demonstrate a broader opportunity. When users repeatedly enter the same information, correct the same mistakes or follow the same series of steps, targeted automation may be able to make the process faster and more reliable.
Finding the right balance
Organizations sometimes hesitate to customize CATIA or 3DEXPERIENCE because they are concerned about upgrades, compatibility and long-term support. These are valid considerations, and any customization should be approached carefully.
The goal is not to customize every process. The best results usually come from finding the right balance between standard platform functionality and targeted automation that delivers clear business value.
Before developing an EKL solution, organizations should define what the automation needs to accomplish, when it should run and how it should respond under different conditions. Testing, documentation and access to the source code are also important for maintaining the solution over time.
With EKL, the code is not compiled, so the underlying logic remains available for review and future maintenance.
Small time savings can produce meaningful returns
An automation does not need to transform an entire engineering process to provide value.
If a script saves each engineer only a few minutes per day, the annual savings can become substantial when multiplied across a team. Automation may also provide additional value by improving consistency, preventing errors and reducing the amount of rework required later in the process.
That is why it is important to consider both the cost of implementing an automation and the ongoing cost of continuing with the existing manual process.
Watch the webinar recording
The webinar provides an introduction to EKL, a look at how it works within CATIA and 3DEXPERIENCE, and several live examples from the XLM Solutions team.
If your organization is dealing with repetitive engineering tasks, inconsistent data or processes that require too many manual steps, the recording can help you begin identifying where EKL may provide value.
Ready to get started? Effective EKL development requires more than coding knowledge. It also demands a strong understanding of CATIA, 3DEXPERIENCE, PLM processes and the business requirements behind the automation. xLM Solutions brings all of these disciplines together, helping customers identify the right processes to automate and delivering reliable, maintainable solutions based on proven best practices.
With responsive support in your local time zones, direct access to experienced specialists and fast turnaround, we can move from requirement to working solution quickly, without the delays and communication gaps that often come with outsourced development. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.
