IWT expands use of Aras Innovator PLM platform

Key Takeaways

• IWT expands its use of Aras Innovator PLM platform to enhance product data management and drive industrial performance
• Aras Innovator replaces legacy CAD-centric PLM system, providing a centralized platform for product data management
• IWT achieves significant improvements in data quality, consistency, and accessibility, with 80% of employees using Aras Innovator as their primary access point to product information
• Implementation of Aras Innovator leads to reduced rework, improved engineering change management, and enhanced collaboration across the organization

Introduction to Aras Innovator

IWT, a leading manufacturer, has expanded its use of Aras Innovator, a product lifecycle management (PLM) platform, to drive industrial performance and enhance product data management. Since its launch in 2018, the collaboration has demonstrated the importance of continuously evolving product data management in driving business success.

Evolution from CAD-Centric PLM to Enterprise-Wide Product Platform

Prior to implementing Aras Innovator, IWT relied on a legacy CAD-centric PLM system, which was supported by semi-manual processes to synchronize data across engineering, ERP, and manufacturing. However, this system lacked formal workflows for engineering change management, had limited part classification, and fragmented document management. As IWT expanded rapidly in the highly regulated pharmaceutical market, these challenges became more pronounced, necessitating a transformation program to establish Aras Innovator as the authoritative platform for managing and governing product data.

Gradual and Controlled Implementation

The implementation of Aras Innovator was gradual and controlled, with the platform going live in 2019. Within two weeks, design teams returned to normal operations, followed shortly by industrial engineering. In the first year, 25,000 parts were released with enriched product data, greater flexibility in BOM management, and no additional workload for engineering teams. The implementation timeline is as follows:

Tangible and Long-Term Business Benefits

The implementation of Aras Innovator has led to significant improvements in data quality, consistency, and accessibility across the organization. With 80% of IWT's employees using Aras Innovator as their primary access point to product information, the platform has transformed from an engineering solution to an enterprise-wide product management backbone. The benefits include:

• Reduced rework caused by data discrepancies
• Improved engineering change management with real-time prioritization based on business needs
• Decline in internal information requests as users gain direct access to reliable product data

Bottom Line

The expansion of Aras Innovator at IWT demonstrates the importance of product data management in driving industrial performance and business success. With its gradual and controlled implementation, IWT has achieved significant improvements in data quality, consistency, and accessibility, leading to reduced rework, improved collaboration, and enhanced customer satisfaction. As IWT continues to evaluate new features and implementations, including the digital twin and Aras Variant Management, the company is well-positioned to maintain its competitive edge in the highly regulated pharmaceutical market.