In the aerospace and defense industry, where precision, safety and innovation are key, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform provides a unified digital environment that streamlines product development, accelerates innovation and drives operational efficiency.
Our client, a global aerospace and defense company that serves as a Tier 1 supplier to major OEMs, had long relied on ENOVIA SmarTeam to fuel its engineering pursuits. However, recognizing the evolving landscape of digitalization, they sought to transition to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on-premise. This shift wasn’t just about migrating data; it entailed a metamorphosis of methodologies and processes – and the company knew it would need the support of a trusted product lifecycle management (PLM) consultant to ensure a successful transition.
Our team rose to the challenge, supporting the company every step of the way and eventually driving the migration of more than 1 million documents and CAD files from SmarTeam to 3DEXPERIENCE. In this blog, I’ll discuss the process, benefits and how we can help your company achieve a similar transition.
The Challenge: Legacy Systems vs. Future Frontiers
Although ENOVIA SmarTeam is still supported, it is now considered a legacy solution and companies across all industries have or are considering a move to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Since aerospace and defense companies are subject to strict regulatory and compliance policies, an on-premise installation is usually required.
Our client was ready to upgrade from legacy SmarTeam, but recognized doing so would be complicated. The existing reliance on ENOVIA SmarTeam meant that not only would they need to migrate documents and CAD, but also transform their engineering change process going forward. The company also wanted to maintain its legacy engineering change records, which were all kept electronically SmarTeam and further complicated the data migration process.
The xLM Solution: A Proven Strategy for Moving from SmarTeam to 3DEXPERIENCE
A lot goes into any PLM implementation, customization and data migration project, but the process can be seamless with the right partner at your back. We supported the A&D major from start to finish, working with the software reseller to finalize a quote, planning and executing the implementation and data migration phases, customizing 3DEXPERIENCE to support their engineering processes and providing comprehensive training to the team to ensure a positive user experience.
By the technical end of the project, the company was live on the latest version of 3DEXPERIENCE, migrated more than 1 million documents and CAD files from SmarTeam, gained proficient knowledge to support the new solution in-house, and had a solid framework in place to scale 3DEXPERIENCE across departments. For more details on how we did it, click here to download the full case study.
Empowering Aerospace Innovation: The Benefits of Partnering with xLM
Following the successful transition from ENOVIA SmarTeam to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, xLM Solutions continues to play a pivotal role in driving value for our aerospace client. With nearly 1 million CAD/documents seamlessly migrated, the benefits of our partnership extend far beyond the go-live event.
Our ongoing support ensures that our client maximizes the full potential of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Whether it’s fine-tuning workflows, optimizing configurations, or addressing technical queries, our team stands ready to provide expert guidance and assistance. We also used EKL for smart part numbering and provided support that helped our client resolve issues in minutes or days, not weeks or months.
“Any time I have questions, xLM is super responsive,” said the aerospace company’s Senior Design Mechanical Engineer in the case study. “Part of the process is that if you have a question, you have to submit a service request (SR). Your SR goes to your software vendor first and, if they can’t solve it, then they’ll escalate it, but the process can take months.”
“I would submit them to Marc’s team as well,and they would get right back to me. I didn’t have to wait months or weeks for a response. xLM is so helpful, and they’re very knowledgeable,” they conclude.
Why Choose xLM Solutions?
In an era where digital transformation reigns supreme, the choice of a partner becomes paramount. xLM Solutions isn’t just a PLM consultant; we’re a dedicated partner in your success that will continue to support you long after a project achieves technical completion.
In addition to being available to answer any questions you may have, we also specialize in the development of custom tools that streamline your user experience and offer tailored training workshops to eliminate knowledge gaps on your team. We take pride in empowering our customers to navigate the complexities of digitalization with confidence.
Interested in learning more about our SmarTeam to 3DEXPERIENCE project? Read the full case study and please get in touch for a one-on-one discussion.
