CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
6 April 2009
Implementation Investments
Inditex Group Selects PTC Windchill to Accelerate Interior Design of Its Retail Network
PTC announced that Spanish Inditex Group, a global player in the fashion industry with well-known brands like Zara, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti or Bershka, has deployed the PTC® PLM solution Windchill® in its store and furnishing design department based in Arteixo, Spain. Windchill will manage all information related to the building equipment, interior design and furnishing of stores worldwide. Inditex selected Windchill, to speed up the design process by configuring the stores from a predefined set of components and modules and to enhance the reliability of the manufacturing information sent to local providers.
Inditex is comprised of over one hundred companies associated with textile design, manufacturing and distribution. The visual and aesthetic appearance of its retail stores and furnishings is a critical differentiator for the fresh image of its products and brands. Consequently, Inditex has invested heavily in frequent redesigns and renovations carried out by their providers.
“Our architects and interior designers are under constant pressure to deliver project plans and furnishing designs faster to the providers that have to build the stores and supply the furniture,” explains José Froján Resua, chief of Estudio Arquitectura, Zara. “Windchill will help us to reduce design cycle times, to better control the interior design and furnishing of our stores worldwide and to improve our relationship with global suppliers, giving them access to reliable and up-to-date information for manufacturing.”
During the selection process, Inditex compared Windchill with other vendors’ solutions and selected the PTC software for its open, web-based architecture which allowed a better and faster integration of the company’s existing AutoCAD® solution and other product development applications. In addition, PTC’s implementation partner, DIMEF INGENIERÍA, was able to master their understanding of key Inditex processes and workflows, which allowed them to develop a client solution that met the specific needs of Inditex users.
Windchill will be used by all of the company’s architects and interior designers to link together relevant design data such as project plans, design drawings, manufacturing plans, lists of materials, catalog data, and photos in a structured, streamlined manner. Improved standardization of new furnishing and interior components will allow design groups to configure stores from predefined sets of modules and components and to manage these configurations over their entire lifespan.
Inditex plans to give their partners direct access to the Windchill database. This will facilitate real time communication and reduce errors caused by the use of outdated information. The PDS (Product Development System) will also enhance management of the furnishing catalogues which are revised every year, typically involving thousands of material and color changes.
“Delivering the right information to the right person at the right time is important in any industry but it is vital in the fashion business because of the industry’s short cycle times. Any delay in opening new stores due to incomplete or outdated information means a considerable monetary loss for the company,” explains Kathleen Mitford, VP Product and Market Strategy, PTC. “Inditex’s decision to implement Windchill demonstrates how the flexible PTC Product Development System can adapt to the needs of customers in a wide variety of industries and markets.”
About Inditex
Inditex is one of the world’s largest fashion distributors. It has almost 4.300 stores belonging to its Zara, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home and Uterqüe concepts in 73 countries. The company employs over 80,000 persons all over the world and the sales in 2007 reached 9,435 million euros. The company is listed on the Madrid stock exchange (IBEX 35: ITX).
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