PDM Works Enterprise (Conisio) - Please post your expiriences

Hey

We are 25 engineers building machines for the graphic industry.
Multiple people are working on the same projects at the same time, and
we have build up an archive of 75.000 parts, assemblies and drawings.
We havent been using any PDM system so far, but have a set of rules
implementet to prevent overwriting existing parts/assemblies, so we
take out a new number and copy the part and then makes changes to that
"new" part. This way we have been able to work with out revisions.

We do however see the potential in using a PDM system, and have been
looking at Conisio or PDM Works Enterprise as they renamed it, after
SW bought it.

We would look at it as an investment, and therefor we need some sort
of plan on how to save the money over time, by the functions within
the program. The parametres we have that are meassure-able are
loadtimes and the cost of making a new number in our system, which
also has a cost.

Loadtimes:
The main reason for wanting PDM is that we want to reduce loadtimes on
our large assemblies, we have tried everything else, but it seems that
SW have no intensions of making their program work for companies that
works as ours, without PDM. To me is seems like a hustle... But I cant
do anything about it.
With PDMW Enterprise the loading into SW should be done locally (I was
told it copies the files needed from the vault onto the local machine
and then opens them from there). Which should easily cut our load
times in half (we have loadtimes between 20 and 30 minutes on our
larges assemblies - just ordered a 64-bit to get 8 gb of ram to
actually be able to open the larger ones).


So what I am asking from all of you is to post your expiriences with
Conisio/PDMW Enterprise, the pros and cons. Since I will be needing to
put up a list of requirements for our VAR to be sure we will get a
working system and not using a huge amount of money afterwards on
consulting hours to make it work just because we didnt define it from
the start.

 

I would have a good look at dbWorks. We are happy with it and it has
greatly cut down on large assembly problems for us.

 

I have had a look on it, and it looks the same as PDMW Enterprise/
Conisio.
Our SW VAR have been selling Conisio for 5 years? And to be able to
get support for it within DK it is our best choice I reckon.

But I am fairly sure its the same problems with similar PDM-systems.

We need ít to handle our ERP system aswell in some point, so limiting
that transfer is one of the keys for it to work well for us.

When our VAR speaks about it, it sounds like its the best thing
ever... so I just want some expiriences good or bad with implementing
a PDM system. Cause its so much easier afterwards to see what you
should have done.

 

We started using Conisio about 6 years ago with 200 licenses, and have been
quite happy with it. But, we don't transfer out to ERP, nor do we use the
workflow at this time so I can't speak to those issues.

If you have some specific questions, feel free to ask, or offline if you
prefer.

WT

I have had a look on it, and it looks the same as PDMW Enterprise/
Conisio.
Our SW VAR have been selling Conisio for 5 years? And to be able to
get support for it within DK it is our best choice I reckon.

But I am fairly sure its the same problems with similar PDM-systems.

We need ít to handle our ERP system aswell in some point, so limiting
that transfer is one of the keys for it to work well for us.

When our VAR speaks about it, it sounds like its the best thing
ever... so I just want some expiriences good or bad with implementing
a PDM system. Cause its so much easier afterwards to see what you
should have done.

 

keith,

do you use local checkout mode?

kenneth

 

top,

do you use local checkout mode?

kenneth

 

Ronni,

dbWorks is a European program with a good support network. I am not so
sure that Conisio can handle configurations as well as dbWorks, if at
all. I know in Germany there is a very strong user base.

dbWorks is very strong on ERP integration. That depends of course on
what ERP system you have. You need to have a plan going in and know
exactly what it is that you want to do.

Your VAR should be able to give you several references which you can
contact. You want to evaluate your VARs ability to support as well as
the software, because that is just as important.

 

No, we have a blazing fast network. Keeping the files on the server
allows SW to view the latest changes.

 

Make sure the X64 bit version of SW works the way you want it to.
For example, last time I checked PDMWorks was NOT recompiled to work
with X64 bit SW.
Is anyone using a 3rd party PDM add-in running true 64 bit instead of
32 bit WOW emulation?"

I know of one other PDM that has just converted (can't remember which
one off hand).

Len

 

SP3.0 introduced x64 for PDMWE. But it also forces everyone to be running
XP - 2000 will not run any more.

WT

 

Is there a list of resellers for europe?

Support-wise: where do you have some preferences?

How is it prized compared to PDWE ?

 

Look at: http://www.mechworks.com/Partners.asp

Germany, Poland, Netherlands and Italy.

 

For a while, our support was coming from D2M3,
http://www.d2m3.com/d2m3/background.asp# and they did a good job.

WT

 

Anyone have some expiriences building up the vault with a large amount
of existing parts/drawings/assemblies ??

 

Yup,

If you didn't have any kind of plan prior to PDM you will have a lot
of work to do.

Check for duplicate part numbers/file names.
Try to get your custom properties consistent if you are using them
with PDM.
Make sure you have a system before you start.

 

Replying, bumping and adding

We are making the "plan" atm, havent bought anything yet and we are
clear on having to be very certain on what we want before buying it.

Also the price seems to be a factor here, at least I can see that the
licenses alone, a PDMWE licens cost 3 times more than a dbWorks
license.
But also being aware that thats only a part of the cost. Getting it to
work afterwards is probably the main cost.
They claim to be able to integrate it quite fast (below 20 work days,
which sounds in the lower end).

Would like to know, how many days you reseller had their people at
your place to make it work, and how that compares to what they
promised beforehand.

 

Solidworks PDM Enterprise

Its as finikie as any software program out there. Couple of things I would recommend from my experience as a user and engineering department administrator. Make sure the server hosting the database has losts of horsepower and if you can get your IT to put it on its own SQL Server the do it. Also make sure to have at least a 1GB network to each workstation and GREAT workstations. Saving a few bucks on RAM & Video Cards will eat you alive in crashes and slow load/rendering times. Also remember that checked out files are checked out to each user and if that user quits or is terminated you have to use their log-in account to be able to check them back in.

The crashes are getting better and it has eliminated the need for Solidworks Explorer but checking in files and clearing local cache on a regular basis is a good idea but not always practical as employees don't always follow all the rules.

On slow networks dont use preview and check-out the entire project not just a sub-assembly or part as mates effect other part/assembly files and solidworks needs to be able to update them as well.

I know this reply is late in coming but for new people thinking of using it, it might be helpful.