PLM platform wins productivity gains

A leading French Tier 1 automotive plastics component supplier has achieved significant productivity gains in its engineering as a result of the recently completed deployment of a PLM platform.

MatrixOne, a leading provider of collaborative product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions for the value chain, has announced that Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior, a leading Tier 1 automotive supplier headquartered in France, has achieved significant productivity gains in its engineering activities as a result of the recently completed deployment of the MatrixOne PLM platform.

Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior deployed MatrixOne solutions to enable the creation of a global collaborative workspace and to increase the efficiency and standardisation of its core product development processes.

The automotive supplier estimates that ROI on its MatrixOne deployment will be achieved within four years.

The dispersed nature of its automobile product development teams was one of the primary reasons behind Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior's decision to deploy a PLM solution.

The company wanted to build a collaborative network which would allow both its own teams and external partners, who are geographically scattered and cover multiple disciplines, to have access to and share product design and production data in real time - thus accelerating the approval process and innovation cycle.

In an automobile sector where product life cycles and time-to-market are constantly being reduced, and prices are under pressure, the company's objectives were to eliminate processes with little added-value and to decrease delivery times.

In 2001, Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior carried out a comparative study of a number of the best known PLM solutions on the market, with the MatrixOne PLM platform ultimately distinguishing itself from the pack.

MatrixOne's solution appeared to us to be the best one adapted to our function as an automotive supplier.

Our initial choice has been confirmed by the position taken by our colleagues in the market, said Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior's PLM project manager.

He said it is the company's intention to capitalise on MatrixOne's platform and applications to build internal reference databases and standards libraries.

This will eliminate the repetition of certain tasks, something that leads to an enormous waste of time and money, and help us to deliver quality products more quickly and at more competitive prices.

The fact that we can easily integrate CAO tools is also an important advantage.

"The improved productivity already experienced by Plastic Omnium underlines the competitive advantage our products offer geographically dispersed, international companies aiming to streamline their processes and improve results through collaborative development," said Henri Carasso, general manager of MatrixOne for Southern Europe.

"By fully leveraging MatrixOne applications to manage engineering, product and supply processes, Plastic Omnium is well-poised to maintain its leadership position." * About Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior - Tier 1 automotive supplier, Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior designs and supplies exterior components and modules, personalised and multi-material global solutions.

World number two in its sector, Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior has 52 industrial sites spread over four continents and equipped 7.5 million vehicles throughout the world in 2004.

Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior is a division of Compagnie Plastic Omnium (http://www.plasticomnium.com).

* About MatrixOne - MatrixOne (NASDAQ: MONE) is a recognised leader in delivering collaborative Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions.

We provide flexible solutions that unleash the creative power of global value chains to inspire innovations and speed them to market.

MatrixOne's customers include global leaders in the aerospace and defense, automotive, consumer products, high technology, life sciences, machinery, and the process industries, including Agilent Technologies, General Electric, Honda, Johnson Controls, Philips, Procter and Gamble, Siemens, and Toshiba.

MatrixOne is headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts with locations throughout North America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific.

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