Materials Science Applications Of PLM Software

Interview conducted by G.P. ThomasJan 16 2013

In this interview, Rajiv Ghatikar, vice president and general manager for ASEAN / Australasia of Siemens PLM Software , talks to AZoM about the theory behind PLM software and how it has assisted various project on Earth –and beyond!

Could you please provide a brief introduction to Siemens and how Siemens PLM Software fits into the business as a whole?

The Siemens PLM Software solutions, like all divisions in Siemens industry sector, offer better productivity, flexibility and efficiency to companies through proven and sophisticated technology. The company collaborates with its customers to deliver customised PLM solutions required to support key decisions in products innovation.

Siemens understands that developing sophisticated products is a challenging prospect in present situation. Products and related processes are becoming more complex and the speed of decision-making with respect to products is increasing faster and far exceeds the pace required to absorb information. Such difficulties tend to affect customers.

A couple of years ago, Siemens started a new vision dubbed ‘High-Definition PLM’ (HD-PLM), which allows customers to make informed decisions and develop better products.

Could you tell us a little bit about the theory behind PLM Software?

HD-PLM is based on three main principles, which include providing improved user experience so that individuals who develop products receive the right kind of information that is appropriate to their job in a simple, fast and effective manner; integrating information to obtain value from huge volumes of different data; providing assistance to users in decision-making; and preserving PLM architecture to protect investment in Siemens’ solutions and reducing total cost of ownership.

PLM is a kind of information or enterprise strategy that develops a logical data structure by combining systems. It enables companies across the globe to work as a single group to design, develop and support products and to retain best practices along the process.

Siemens PLM Software also views PLM as a transformational business strategy and considers it as a complete approach to innovation based on enterprise access to product information and processes. In fact, PLM software enables organizations to control the overall lifecycle of a product in an efficient and cost-effective way, ranging from design and development through to service and disposal.

What are the key benefits of PLM software?

The main advantages of PLM software are it allows enterprises to make smarter decisions at each point of the product lifecycle. Additionally, PLM solutions set up a unified platform to improve the value of product portfolio, to enhance relationships across companies, and to establish a single system to support different data requirements.

How is Siemens PLM Software unique in this sector?

When compared to other enterprise software solutions, PLM solutions drive top-line revenue from redundant procedures. It provides the required application to digitally write, verify and control the product and process information. In fact, Siemens manages over 40% of the global 3D data and has provided strategic business value to its customer across the world, resulting in better productivity, cost savings, and shortened time to market. With the help of Siemens’ innovative solutions, clients including General Motors, Bentley Systems, Procter & Gamble and Boeing, etc. make information-driven decisions in products and processes.

Within the field of materials science, what types of industries would benefit from PLM Software?

Siemens PLM Software offers unique industry-specific solutions for a broad range of industries, including energy and utilities, aerospace and defense, consumer products, high tech and electronics, automotive and transportation, government, education and services, life sciences, and machinery and industrial products.

Siemens PLM Software was recently named China’s Best CAE Supplier 2012 – could you tell us a little more about this and what this mean to the company?

Winning any award is a great achievement and testament to the solutions we offer. While commenting on China’s Best CAE Supplier 2012 award is beyond our remit, we would like to stress that in addition to the above award, Siemens PLM Software has also been recognized at the inaugural Asian Manufacturing Awards 2012 held in Singapore this year where company was recognized as the Best PLM Systems Provider and Best Computer-aided Manufacturing (CAM) Systems Provider. In addition, Dataquest, a leading information technology magazine in India, has once again named Siemens as the top PLM Vendor in India.

Could you give a brief interview to the range of products that Siemens PLM Software provides?

Siemens PLM Software provides a wide range of products such as Teamcenter, NX, Fibersim, Syncrofit, Seat Design Environment (SDE), Quality Planning Environment (QPE), Tecnomatix, Velocity Series, Solid Edge with synchronous technology, Teamcenter Teamcent Express, Femap and CAM Express. PLM Components allow different manufacturing companies to share data with their associates and suppliers, in spite of the PLM applications employed by different organizations.

How is Siemens PLM software involved in the Mars rover ‘Curiosity’?

The NX technology was instrumental in ensuring that the components of Curiosity would fit together, function properly, and tolerate different environments during the mission.

About Rajiv Ghatikar

Rajiv Ghatikar is vice president and general manager for ASEAN / Australasia of Siemens PLM Software. Siemens PLM Software is a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division, and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services with 6.7 million licensed seats and 69,500 customers worldwide. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Siemens PLM Software works collaboratively with companies to deliver open solutions that help them turn more ideas into successful products.

Located in Singapore, Rajiv is responsible for managing all sales, sales support and services delivery for his region.

Since taking over his position, Rajiv has re-built a strong professional sales-focused performance oriented team, in line with his vision and to drive his business strategy, underpinned to which is a strong focus on driving channel partner engagement and performance.

Prior to his current role, Rajiv was associated with the PLM industry for the past decade as the Controller for Asia Pacific with the former UGS. From 1991 to 1998 he also worked with Procter &Gamble in both India and China in various financial roles with increasing levels of responsibility.

Born in Mumbai, India, Rajiv studied at the St. Mary’s School and the Sydenham College before completing his professional studies as a Chartered Accountant. Rajiv has spent most of his work life and career outside of India and is committed to developing the potential of the Asia Pacific region, which he sees as his home.