An Internet Browser is definitely among the included items on any desktop. Most office desktops will have the standard office components installed. Folks engaged in developing products one can only dream about such simplicity.  In addition to what is already mentioned, there will be special applications to perform works such as NC programming, simulation, design, and Customer Relationship and Supply management functions. In general, most job functions need to access several software solutions and they will not be uniform across all desktops and workstations. All these systems produces an incredible amount of data..
With the multiplicity of applications, the extensive meaning of the data, and the need for selected data to participate in workflow forces the introduction of EDM/PDM. Electronic product data management  is an absolute must to guarantee order and organization of this data flood to maintain relations and topical access in a meaningful way.

At Siemens TS (Transportation System) four different EDM systems were deployed in eight large business groups. Siemens has decided to standardize on two systems: Metaphase and Windchill. These two systems houses product structures, administration data, releases, stored models, drawings, and many other functions. For engineers, then, a solution was found and it reduced greatly their burden of maintaining data in multiple systems.

The problem is that specialty programs introduces a complexity of use the general enterprise user can not be expected to deal with. It takes an advanced engineering degree to master and use these programs. This presents a barrier to efficient use of corporate data. "Outside engineering, easy access to the product  data provides a substantial potential to enhance business"  Says PDM Project leader  Dr. Matthias Doblies, ..

Simple and for everybody
The product data, developed as a result of concept development and engineering  plays a central role. The data is augmented by, and used far beyond the actual development process such as the whole enterprise including all external partners. Every phase of  the life cycle of any product references and uses the raw data.

Siemens TS sought to formulate a process and create a system bridging the different areas. The system requirement was to access the data and use it for very diverse purposes and by users of diverse background. In achieving simplicity, the system had to be easy to use and quickly adopted my the vast majority of the employees.

In addition, power users in product development, project managers, and specialists had to have full access to all functionality. 

Dr. Doblies: " The difficulty lies in the fact that coworkers with completely different purposes and extremely different EDP experience must access the same database. Commercial PDM systems are normally not geared toward this kind of flexibility"

The company ECS Engineering Consulting & Solutions in Neumarkt surprised us with a solution. Their solution gives access to established PDM systems. Operations are made simple based on the paradigm established by Microsoft Outlook. MetaUI from ECS established this type of " user commodity " first for Metaphase in the product MetaUI. Based on the experiences with pre-configured MetaKON and MetaUI, ECS gives direct access to Metaphase and other PDM backbones through eCenter - the extension to MetaUI. And again, the user feels immediately at home in this well know user paradigm.

Traditional hunting and pecking through an abundance of functions and menus, nearly impossibly to understand for the occasional user has been replaced with an unified User Interface, where data access and operating on such data is learned in minutes.

From Browser to the project data  

The software is based on standard Web technology and is programmed in Java or HTML. With a standard Browser, data is accessed in Metaphase - independently of client computers,  application software and location of data vault. The simplicity of this is captivating. Each user gets a self installed thin client and for an enterprise as big as Siemens TS, one server installation is sufficient to handle the load. One server provides efficient world-wide access to up to date and current documents.

Using a standard Browser, picture, text documents, and relations are efficiently shown and ready for use in eCenter (from ECS).

In October 2000 a team of Siemens employees together with Siemens Business Solutions (SBS) and ECS was tasked with creating a  PDM solution meeting Siemens needs.

What's important, what's not? Which function do most coworkers need and which functions needs to be accessed by only administrators and specialist. How do we unify these needs? 

Naturally, these questions were to be answered with consideration for the available budget and not just to establish a pipe dream. The first prototype was finished in December, and in May 2001 the prototype was rolled out to Siemens TK (Turn Key). Right on budget and plan. This system handles all the documents for a large project in Shanghai with more that 100 simultaneous users accessing the system.  At the same time, the project is also rolled out to Siemens TL (Overhead Power Lines)

At the close of 2001, approximately 200 users were on line. Siemens is intending to add  another 2000 users shortly. Dr. Doblies: " That means practically a doubling of previous PDM use. And it is only a small start. It is clear that we have built the correct foundation with ECS software. The barriers are now down, which previously stopped us from using PDM effectively in the past "

The path to these features and flexibility should not place complex programming requirements on the database, PDM system or any other administrative activity. Configuration files can be easily adapted by the customer to fit their specifications. In addition, the ease with which the configuration files can be customized through an XML architecture creates the independence of the software from a particular PDM product. 

Engineering data Central
This is the main objective of ECS software. First class PLM solutions, such as Metaphase or Windchill, will in the first phase of implementation give you data centric access with it's own user interface to get to it.  But there is more. Users need to also access other systems, and why not use a unified user interface to do so.  During subsequent implementation phases, the enterprise quickly come across the requirement to access multiple databases (and software) with one access portal. ECS constructed eCenter for this purpose. It's origin was the MetaUI system for accessing Metaphase.  For example eCenter is deployed in KNORR Brakes, Munich, which united their PDM application with the ERP application (PPS). Likewise for Siemens where WIndchill and Metaphase was united through the eCenter access portal. For the user at Siemens, it does not matter which PDM system administers the data. Siemens went as far as to say that the neutral access to multiple systems is a requirement for successful deployment. The user would only have to be able to master the simplicity of eCenter to be able to manipulate data in the complex PDM systems.

Dr. Doeblis has stated the following: "Our enterprise is divided into several areas. They concentrate on certain functions. Examples of these are, the rail system, the overhead line, or the vehicles proper. But the turn key division, which handles product integration projects like a complete metropolitan railway, has to work naturally and efficiently. At the same time other groups use different software. With eCenter we  have a solution, connecting the different islands intelligently and efficiently."

With ECS' solutions the number of interlaced EDM coworkers in the enterprise can be increased tenfold. This reduces the IT maintenance costs drastically.  This software distinguishes itself from the normal framework.  Traditionally, vendors provide new functions and methods along with well-known and familiar methodologies.  The eCenter software and concept is a breath of fresh air. It unifies the enterprise instead of creating new islands.