The Dassault Systemes Success Story by Francis Bernard in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Ray Kurland
12/16/2010

Francis Bernard, my former boss at Dassault Systemes, and I would like to say, a friend, sent me an article he wrote detailing the emergence of CATIA from software for analyzing wind tunnel models at Avion Marcel Dassault into Dassault Systemes. I have included it intact here. I think you will enjoy reading it from his perspective. I worked at IBM as a CATIA regional executive during the years 1984 to 1987 and then at DS USA in 1988 and personally witnessed many of these events happen. Bernard was a tireless executive and a true believer in the potential of CATIA and 3D modeling to change the engineering design world - and he proved to be right!

When a consultant can help in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Ray Kurland
10/26/2008

I was recently musing about an assignment I conducted several years ago. Enough time and changes have gone by so that I can now share this story with you. At the conclusion of this assignment, I proposed that this company entirely rethink their process, only stocking raw materials and investing in an automated manufacturing processes to greatly reduce their order to delivery cycle and reduce their WIP inventory. My recommendations were not accepted. Less than two years later, no longer able to be competitive, the company closed its doors. Click on the link to read the full story.

Selecting a PLM System to Improve Product Development Performance for Small and Medium Sized Manufacturing Businesses in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Ray Kurland
09/27/2008

This paper is a follow on and update of TechniCom's previous paper published in February 2005. In that paper we discussed "Selecting a CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM (CCCP) system" and noted that selecting such a system is no easy task. Today, almost three and one half years later it is still no easy task to select a comprehensive engineering and product development system, yet it is crucial to the success of ANY business, be it small or large.

Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) defined in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Ray Kurland
10/14/2007

Today's PLM vendors all seem to be defining their new architecture as SOA, but never take the time to describe exactly what that means or entails. We decided to find out and thought you might appreciate what we came up with. As either a user or a vendor you should be able to clearly understand and articulate the benefits of SOA and its implications to your corporate and IT environment. This paper should help.

See Microsoft and CSC predictions of technology changes in Press Releases in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Ray Kurland
09/26/2006

Six Sigma and the Well-Behaved Design in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Jim Buchanan
09/07/2006

Is the USA 2005 Technology Environment Headed in the Wrong Direction? Part 4 in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Russ Henke
06/28/2005

The fourth in a series of articles, this article focuses on the ballooning real and psychic costs of the Iraqi war and reduced US and worldwide admiration for US leadership. The out-of-pocket tab for US taxpayers for the war in IRAQ is now over $200 billion and headed for $300 billion by the end of 2005; this on top of the ballooning federal deficit that is driven by the deliberate reduction in federal taxes and thus government revenue over the last five years. US military deaths in IRAQ since the ill-advised war began in March 2003 are now over 1700 and counting. The Iraqi insurgency is stronger than ever. A New York Time/CBS News poll in June 2005 showed that President Bush's approval ratings reached a new low with only 42% replying that Bush was doing a good job, compared with 52% earlier this year.

Russ Henke updates his technology economic climate review in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Russ Henke
06/08/2005

Just three weeks have passed since the posting of the second article in this series on CAD-Portal.com (May 17, 2005). But the reports of events moving in the wrong direction appear to be accelerating, and thus this “instant update”.

Is the USA 2005 Technology Environment Headed in the Wrong Direction? Part 2 in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Russ Henke
05/17/2005

Russ Henke, in this second article explores other aspects of why the technology environment in the last five years have moved us in the wrong direction. This second article in the series explores business, economic and geopolitical indicators that have been causing high-anxiety in the world of high technology in the United States and elsewhere. The first article in this series, posted on CAD-Portal.com on April 15, 2005, primarily covered the sluggish net job growth and a deteriorating domestic stock markt. This article mainly deals with the unremitting extravagance in the face of the shift from US federal budget surplus to deficit, the long-term trend of a rich-get-richer, poor-get-poorer US income distribution, the weaker US dollar, rising energy, oil & gas prices, ongoing corporate fraud, and record trade deficits. Future articles in this series will focus on the remaining aspects of the "Dirty Dozen” factors mentioned in the article. Selected tech-industry success stories in coping with this overall negative atmosphere will also be provided in subsequent articles.

Checking Drawings in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Gary Whitmire
04/26/2005

If there are changes to be made after the drawings have been released and sent to manufacturing or vendors. The whole checking process starts over. This is why checking is so important. I cannot stress enough the need to avoid the related cost and time lost due to revisions.

Is the USA 2005 Technology Environment Headed in the Wrong Direction? Part 1 in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Russ Henke
04/15/2005

Russ Henke, a widely respected industry pundit, explores why, after eight years of an improving technology environment, the last five years have moved us in the wrong direction. This is the first in a series of articles that will explore business, economic and geopolitical indicators that have been causing high-anxiety in the world of high technology in the United States and elsewhere.

The last five years have resulted in at least a dozen enervating factors: (1) relentless profligacy in the face of the unprecedented swing from U.S. federal budget surplus to deficit, (2) the unmistakable long-term trend of a rich-get-richer, poor-get-poorer U.S. income distribution, (3) sluggish net job growth well below the requirements of U.S. population increases, (4) a net U.S. disadvantage in globalization, (6) weakened U.S. environmental stewardship, (6) the ballooning real and psychic costs of war, (7) reduced worldwide admiration for U.S. leadership, (8) the weaker dollar, (9) rising oil & gas prices, (10) a deteriorating domestic stock market, (11) rising corporate fraud, and (12) record deficits in trade and investment - which now require the U.S. to borrow $2.1 billion a day from abroad.

In future articles, Henke will cover some tech-industry success stories in coping with this negative atmosphere.

Product Lifecycle Management: How it can drive your business in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Dr. Kais Al-Tinimi
04/03/2005

A paper by Datamation Ltd., January 2005, seeks to clear up what Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) actually means and how it differs from Product Data Management (PDM). The paper proposes the idea of Corporate Intellectual Capital (CIC) and suggests that CIC management is critical.

Selecting a Mechanical CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM System for SMBs in Interesting Papers
Contributed by: Ray Kurland
03/11/2005

For prospective buyers of mid-range Mechanical CAD (MCAD) systems, this Executive Summary of a TechniCom whitepaper proposes a logical, methodical approach for successfully selecting a new product development system.