CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
24 February 2005
Implementation Investments
Beyond the Checkered Flag: Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software from UGS Helps Drive Success of Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon at Daytona 500
Few things help the cars from Hendrick Motorsports reach the winners circle more often than the speed and reliability of UGS technology. Of course, having Jeff Gordon behind the wheel doesn't hurt, either.
Driving his famous No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, which was developed using technology from UGS, Gordon made history Sunday, becoming just the fifth driver in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series history to win three or more times in the Daytona 500. It was also the third victory for Hendrick in the last four restrictor-place races.
"On behalf of everyone at UGS we offer our enthusiastic congratulations to Jeff Gordon and the entire Hendrick team for this historic victory," said Dave Shirk, executive vice president of Global Marketing for UGS. "We are proud of our enduring relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and pleased to know our solutions helped the team deliver a winner."
The people at Hendrick Motorsports know that building the fastest car and having it break down - or worse yet not be ready to race on race day - doesn't win many races. That's why Hendrick relies on software solutions from its technology partner UGS to help execute and manage the entire product development process for all of its racing vehicles.
"Hendrick Motorsports uses the UGS software family to stay at the forefront of the competition," said Jim Wall, Hendrick's director of engine engineering. "You're tested every weekend in this business and that cycle gives you a quick reality check."
Hendrick uses UGS' NXT digital product development solution, to design and manufacture every aspect of its race cars. Hendrick was one of the first NASCAR teams to begin using state-of-the-art product development software. The technology enabled Hendrick to reduce engine machining time, achieve an unprecedented level of machining consistency and ultimately cut production costs. The first engines produced using the new technology finished first, second and third at the Purolator 500.
To help maintain this winning tradition, Hendrick Motorsports added UGS' Teamcenter® solution to manage the enormous stockpiles of data associated with each vehicle and their teams. In addition to the design and manufacturing data created with NX, Teamcenter manages digital simulation results, engine dynamometer data, chassis dynamometer data, wind-tunnel data, track test results and marketing and licensing materials.
"Having all of our product data readily available, even at the race track, enables us to not only produce vehicles more quickly but also to respond to, and solve, problems that occur during a race much faster," Wall said. "The formula with UGS technology as a central ingredient is working."
In addition to Gordon's historic win, Hendrick Motorsports had three engines place in the top five at Daytona, including the one powering the car of Gordon's teammate, Jimmie Johnson, who placed fifth. And just one week earlier, racing at the Bud Shootout, Johnson took first place.
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