CIMdata's Releases Position Paper Illuminating High-End
Mechanical Design Automation Issues

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, August 7, 2002—Consulting and research firm, CIMdata, has published a position paper on the current state of Mechanical Design Automation (MDA) solutions and the three high-end vendors of solutions for this space.  The review covers changes in the MDA market and how these affect industrial companies as they review and evaluate their use of MDA solutions today.  "The changes in this market space have been considerable during the past few years and can have a profound effect on the choices that companies make concerning tools and vendor partners." said John MacKrell, CIMdata Senior Consultant.

The report is intended to help companies sort through and understand the impacts of recent acquisitions, market conditions, and product-related activities.  Companies need to consider not only the current capabilities of the MDA solutions and how these match to their business requirements, but also the ability of each of the solution partners to be a working partner.

Three solution providers are examined in the report: EDS PLM Solutions, IBM/Dassault Systèmes, and PTC.  Each has undergone important changes recently. While each has strengths, they also face significant challenges that are detailed in the report.

About CIMdata
CIMdata provides worldwide strategic PLM consulting and program support, in-depth research, and education for both industrial organizations and suppliers of technologies and services seeking competitive advantage in the global economy.

CIMdata helps industrial organizations establish effective PLM strategies, assists in the identification of requirements and selection of PLM technologies, helps organizations optimize their operational structure and processes to implement solutions, and assists in the deployment of these solutions.

For PLM solution suppliers, CIMdata helps define business and market strategies, delivers worldwide market information and analyses, provides education and support for internal sales and marketing teams, as well as overall support at all stages of business and product programs to make them optimally effective in their markets.

CIMdata provides world-class knowledge, expertise, and best-practice methods on PLM solutions. These solutions incorporate both business processes and a wide-ranging set of PLM enabling technologies including product data management (PDM), visualization, collaboration, digital manufacturing, computer-aided design/manufacturing (CAD/CAM), and numerical control (NC).  CIMdata also provides expertise in the integration of PLM with other business solutions such as customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM), and enterprise resource planning (ERP).

In addition to consulting, CIMdata provides industry education through international conferences in the US, Europe, and Japan that focus on PLM.  The company also conducts research, provides PLM-focused subscription services, and produces several commercial publications.  CIMdata serves clients worldwide from locations in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

To learn more about CIMdata's services contact CIMdata at:
3909 Research Park Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA.
Tel: +1 (734) 668-9922.
Fax: +1 (734) 668-1957