Interview: Samson Khaou, Managing Director, India, Dassault Systemes
Q: What made Dassault Systemes to bring digital manufacturing software to India?
Khaou: The new manufacturing software has been with us from day 1. If you look back, in the 1980s computer-aided machining (CAM) was used at the initial phase when you had to design a part you wanted to machine. So our solutions existed at that time through CATIA to machine the part based on the 3D design. Later it moved to digital mockup, which was an old process for assembling different 3D parts. This process faced a lot of challenges. Therefore we came up with a different solution in the 90s, which took care of from machining to assembling in the production line. When you say assembly it also means that how you add robotics simulation, because you have some parts which are going to get assembled manually and some by robots. So our solution existed in the early 90s. What we saw in 2000 was how we could incorporate all the specification of welding into the design and how we were going to have the full scale of simulation of the given factory. Now as part of the first step of our transformation with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform we are going to leverage it to enable the digital continuity to have all the designs that can be used at the manufacturing facility and how you can actually drive the execution of those operations using the same reference of the design.
All these portfolios have been with us from the inception of the company. Now what you see is: Why the manufacturing platform is important; how to foster the digital continuity based on the single source of tools of the product; how you are going to leverage all the automation and the data that you generate in the factory; how you are going to leverage those information to improve the quality of the execution, and how you can improve the optimisation of the equipment. But the most important thing that we learnt is that the engineers or the people who work have to be the part of this transformation. Because when you have to embrace those changes to the technology the critical success factor is the training and you can see that all these different technologies help people working in the factory to learn faster.
Q: How do you see the potential of this product in India?
Khaou: We see a great potential in India since many manufactures are interested in setting up their shops and we want to serve them here. When they set up a factory here they will bring their best practices that are used in their existing plant to globalise the process. For this they need to have a system, which allow them to meet the quality levels across their plants. Therefore our product will help them in acquiring data and integrating from engineering to manufacturing.
Q: So the new platform is going to come as a single solution?
Khaou: Our 3DEXPERIENCE help our customers put all their different applications and make them run together in an integrated manner and provide them as a sinle package.
Q: Will it also be a cost effective solution?
Khaou: Cost comes with the value, profitability and benefits you gain. So everything is relative. If you look at the supply chain, sometimes it will be small and medium-size company. For them it is very important to see how they can invest in technology to be more competitive in the domestic market and even in the global market. It is like a survival game.
To enable the total cost of ownership we are releasing more and more solutions based on cloud. Our 3DEXPERIENCE is a cloud-based architecture, where you can reduce the total cost of ownership. So you have a model where you do not need to invest in hardware and everything can be accessed through internet. You can use the platform to design or to simulate what could be the manufacturing cost.
Q: Is it possible to integrate your new solution to the existing factories and will your solution help in suggesting the equipment as well?
Khaou: Yes, our solution can be used in the existing layout. Our solutions also help the manufacturers in validating the new equipments that they are going to install. It will provide a clear solution whether to go with automation or manual, how to manage all the orchestration of the production and leveraging on the new equipment that the company is going to install.
Systemes said, “The world of manufacturing has shifted its focus from mass production to mass customization and quick delivery to an on-demand generation of consumers. Complete synchronisation and integration of operations, modularity and predictive analytics have enabled manufacturers to provide consumers with a personalised experience. Additive manufacturing is becoming a game changer. ‘Manufacturing in the Age of Experience’ offers a unique opportunity to explore how industries can digitally transform with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.”
“Manufacturing in the Age of Experience” will also provide a preview of the future of smart manufacturing in the 3DEXPERIENCE Playground, a technology showcase featuring interactive stations. The Future Manufacturing Cockpit provides a perspective on tomorrow’s global enterprises where production complexity is handled with ease by a new holographic 3D view of all levels of the value creation process. The 3DEXPERIENCE Factory is a smart factory solution to design and simulate the behaviour of the full production line combining the HTC Vive virtual reality system and Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The 3D Lean Experience provides a real shop floor experience developed for operators, team leaders and supervisors. Four Digital Continuity scenarios spanning product engineering to manufacturing and back to product engineering are also showcased.
Commenting on the technology showcase, Khaou added, “With ‘Manufacturing in the Age of Experience’ we will touch upon how technology is breaking down barriers between virtual and reality through the concepts of solar-powered airplanes, smart homes and offices, 3D simulated human hearts, and self-driven cars. It is inspiring new generations of makers, engineers, scientists, brand evangelists and CEOs to develop the disruptive experiences that are defining our era and creating industries of the future.”
Faurecia Interior Systems’ Engineering IT Director, Eric Borgard, a customer of Dassault Systemes said, “To meet the growing demand from the customers and the pressures that exist today we need to migrate to the digital modelling platforms. Dassault Systemes 3DEXPERIENCE platform not only helps in terms of enhancing productivity but also offers the scope of substantial digital transformation of the business.”
By using Dassault Systemes product globally the OEMs are benefited across their engineering activities, accordin to Xavier Silhouette, Vice President – Sales, T&M Industry, Dassault Systemes. He said, “In India Ashok Leyland has achieved reduction in engineering lead time by using our solutions. Our solutions helped Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to enhance about 15-30% design studio efficiency. FCA has begun to deploy the “Drive Emotion” industry solution experience based on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform across its global design studios. With the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, FCA will virtually unite its teams to design and market spectacular and innovative mobility experiences for a new generation of customers. FCA will move from geometry and functional integration excellence to generative multiphysics design excellence. Also we are partnering with Ford Motor Company for virtual garages and lean production runs,” he added.