As many of you may know, there is a clear trend in manufacturing to increase the use 3D design data, not just within engineering and manufacturing functions, but across the enterprise.  However, sharing 3D data, especially outside of technical areas and with suppliers, has been a challenge.   3D data is almost always accompanied by 2D data, often coming from numerous sources and in involving numerous formats.  We at Adobe have long recognized the need to ensure interoperability while simultaneously helping customers reduce the number of systems necessary to share data with customers or suppliers.  Adobe also recognizes the importance of outstanding presentation and ease of use.  How many emails have you gotten that look like this? (Hint: Look at all of the attachments you get to open... nice!)

Not only does  the PDF Portfolio solve this problem, it is still possible to include multiple file formats where they are needed.  So let’s get to it… click below to read on.

Okay, so what if that email I showed you had looked like this?

Much better?  Of course it is.  Now, maybe you are thinking “so he’s just created a single PDF… what’s the big deal.  Well, let me explain what the big deal is

Suppose when you opened the attachment, you saw this:

As you will see, this is intended to be part of an RFQ process.  Lets click on “get started” and see what happens.

You may need to look really closely to see, but there are Word, SWF, PPT and PDF files (some with 3D content) “embedded” in this PDF.  In the past, we offered something call a PDF package, which converted all of the files to PDF, and you can still work that way with Portfolios, but there are now several options.  This is one of the formats, by the way, that is included with Acrobat Pro Extended.  The various files are arranged and selectable in carrousel fashion.   Let’s select the PPT file and see what happens: 

After a couple of clicks, here is what happened.  I opened the PowerPoint file.  Of course, I needed to have MS Powerpoint on my laptop, but depending upon the workflow and permissions, I could even make changes to the file and save back to the Portfolio.  And look at this:

While the PPT file was open, it was labeled as open in the portfolio.  So in short, that is what a portfolio is.  Imagine how portfolios can address business challenges you may be having.  The sourcing process is just one great example of where you may be able to use them.  Oh yes, did I mention that I opened this in the Adobe Reader?  To learn even more about portfolios and other Acrobat Pro Extended features, click here.

Pretty cool I think!

I would like to jump off from Robert’s article to offer offer my thoughts on how companies like Adobe are helping with that transition.

Read on…

I think there are two main viewpoints that need to be addressed.  The first, and most important should be the consumer of the 3D content.  To be honest, when the transition to 3D began, engineering was its own customer for the most part. Initially engineers had to satisfy engineers… they were both the consumer and creator of the content.  When creating 3D content it is important to correctly manage the background data to provide the context for the emerging design.  It took a while, but CAD companies branched out into PDM for that very reason.  Of course, generation of 3D data would be useless unless there was an effective way to effectively generate prototype and then production parts from it… thus the CAM component and the sharing of data with manufacturing.  The term PLM began to emerge as companies were forced to address how downstream operation would access and use the 3D content, and realized there were vast disconnects between process and technologies used in engineering and what was needed for consumers of the data.  That battle continues.

Why 3D Deployment Stalls

Assuming that downstream use of visualization and solutions designed for engineers working with other engineers is the way to go to make 3D useful will surely derail the transition to 3D that should be taking place.  To go to a ridiculous extreme, imagine that your company wants to share 3D content with customers, so you require customers to obtain CAD seats.  How successful would that be?  Imagine trying to train them even if you purchased CAD for them. Well, the same thing is true both internally and across the extended enterprise.  Would you deploy CAD seats to workers in manufacturing facilities to view 3D content in work instructions?  Of course not.  Would you do the same thing with field maintenance facilities?  I doubt it.  You get the point. You can’t make people’s work more difficult and hope to succeed. That is where Adobe can help. 

Example Manufacturing Work Instruction – Large Automotive OEM

The PDF format is a “super container” that can leverage almost any format, 2D, 3D, whatever.  Both can be combined into single PDF documents or PDF packages.  That is huge, because all that is needed to “consume” those documents (and the 3D content) is the free Adobe Reader.  The Reader does so much more work than many people realize.  Whether its collecting and aggregating data from Forms, doing the same thing with Review and Comment cycles or simply enabling analysis and interaction with embedded  3D content PDF is the perfect compliment to CAD and visualization systems. 

PDF Benefits IT Too

From an IT perspective, all companies I work with are making strides to reduce the number of applications they need to deploy and support.  For them, even free solutions are not free.  The Adobe Reader, however, is already in place.  What I find over and over again is that most are not aware of the capability, and don’t fully leverage what they already have as a result. 

Did I mention security?  Look, the reality is that security is another reason you don’t get enough out of your investment in CAD.  There is absolutely a need to share data outside the “firewall”, but that is a big deal to IT pros.  Direct connections, poking holes in firewalls, identity management, authentication and authorization, VPNs… the list goes on and on.  I am convinced most manufacturers are spending money and taking risks they don’t need to take.  Look into the security benefits of PDF, especially when combined with Adobe’s Rights Management ES.  Can those other “solutions” be eliminated or reduced?  Can you cut spending?  Can you simplify operations? 

So What?

Getting back to Robert’s article… the transition to 3D is not an easy one, but it is well worth it, provided you think through both the ease of creation and use of 3D content.  Yes, you will face issues.  Cultural challenges and expertise will surely rear their heads.  Do what is natural.  If pushing 3D into a work stream seems unnatural, ask yourself if you are asking people to learn skills they really won’t use very much just to access the data. If there are IT challenges, and there will be, ask yourself if you are using what you already have or adding complexity. You need to think about what users really need to maximize the return on your investment.  Those of you who have been through this will know what I’m talking about.  The transition to 3D, carefully aligned with 2D content, is the way to go, and will pay off.  Not extending 3D content across and outside the enterprise is one area where companies fall short.  Don’t let it happen to you.

So along comes Rak Bhalla from Marketing and says “Doug, that’s fine, but can you show me an example?”  I wrote another article I called Extending CAD outside Engineering showing how to combine 2D and 3D content and make them available broadly.  Well, still not satisfied Rak asked if I would do a “Breezo”.  Well, I did.  Read on to find out what a “Breezo” is and to view what I did.

Some of us at Adobe got in the habit of using the term “Breezo” to refer to recorded Connect sessions and such. The term dates back to Breeze, the old Macromedia Product.  That product has eveolved into Connect.  A better term for the recordings would be “Connecto”.  For the record, this was actually done with Captivate, Presenter and Soundbooth.  It is a live demonstration, showing similar content to the “Extend” article.  Now, I realize I’m no stage performer, and there are a couple of little glitches, but this recording might help you understand what is possible.  Obviously, in a limited time I can only show you a little, but I think I hit some of the key points.  To view the recording, just click here and just click on Extending Product Information Outside of Engineering.

I’ll be doing more of these, so feedback would be helpful, but remember I’m no rock star.

Thanks.

I read a study recently about business process trends that said manufacturing companies are increasing the number of structured workflows (in comparison to ad hoc) to streamline operations.  Hum?  So that must mean that business process management being implemented at enterprise levels is swinging the pendulum from informal to formal processes.  I suppose that means enterprise solutions are in and simpler, client-based solutions are out.   I don’t believe it.   Here’s why.

First, let’s talk about surveys.  I strongly suspect that if you speak with most IT executives and business leaders charged with streamlining operations, many would point to managed workflow systems.  That is their job!  Ask those people about trends, and guess what the answers will be.  Now, I’m not here to trash structured solutions… Goodness knows I’ve implemented my share, and better ones are needed virtually everywhere.  I am a huge proponent of them, in fact.  But, I’ve learned the hard way that they don’t always have the desired effect.  

Some teammates at Adobe, Jim Merry and Mark James and I were recently challenged to explain how LiveCycle (for this article read that “structured”) and Acrobat (“unstructured”) support manufacturing companies.  We chose the product development lifecycle to make our points.  First it was Mark who pointed out that the major difference between them is the structured/replicated procedures question.   Then we talked about what really happens… structured systems often drive more ad-hoc collaboration.  Why?  Well, before marching through the complications that inevitably accompany formal, systems based workflows, most people actually “run the play” manually to determine if necessary approvals will be granted, and so forth.  So formal drives informal.

Next we talked about the need for less formal systems early in the product development lifecycle.  Let’s consider change management for example.  Those systems are critical when products are in or nearing production.  The overhead they would drive early in the product development process, where the goal is to find issues early – collaborate early and often would be impossible with formal systems. 

Here is a chart we came up with to explain the idea:

So that is our opinion.  Now, where are you?  Too formal?  Too ad hoc?  Don’t know?  Well, as the chart says, you need a balance.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.  There is much more to talk about here, but I’ll end this discussion here.  Next time perhaps  we can explore how to blend formal process flows with informal ones.

Okay, what’s the trend?  According to almost every account or study I read, use of 3D CAD data is growing.   To some that means that everyone is (or will be) moving to 3D.  I don’t believe that at all, but I think 3D data should become the standard for key workflows.   I think that the reasons it has not are a combination of business and technical limitations that are being overcome.

Use of 3D data is growing.  Cambashi recently reported 13% 2007 growth in sales of engineering software world-wide (with the Asia Pacific region leading the way, which I think is very important to note).  While slower growth rates are expected through 2010, there is clearly something going on here.   You can assume that 3D data use/applications are growing proportionately, at least.  They are probably faster, because there are indeed many mid-size and smaller companies that have resisted, but are being driven to 3D by the large OEMs they sell to.   Then there are 3D Model Based Engineering/Design initiatives intended to take whole industries in that direction.

How fast is 3D usage growing?  The rates vary, depending upon whom you want to believe.  I’m not going to try to give a precise answer.  I’m not going to look at this question from the perspective of someone who has worked to develop PLM systems (broadly defined to include CAD, CAM, PDM, etc.), deploy them.  I am going to look at this from the perspective of what will benefit the enterprise mostly outside of today’s PLM focus.

I am going to ask you to look at this problem by starting with the end in mind.  We will then look at the product lifecycle in reverse, trying to identify where 3D data makes sense, and perhaps where it doesn’t.

So let’s get to it… click below to read on.

So what is the goal of a discrete manufacturing enterprise?  You Eli Goldratt fans are saying “to make money”.  Okay, so let’s not go that far to the end state, but let’s consider what is necessary to deliver a product say to a retail outlet.  For the sake of making this more concrete, let say a car dealership.  You are, of course going to need the product and a way to order and deliver it.  You will need marketing collateral – probably both print and web-based.  You will need service instructions for the shop (and inmost industries for the field).  There are also aftermarket needs, but let’s leave those out for the sake of brevity. 

Now, of course, if we step back a bit, there had to be a production manufacturing facility up and running near flawlessly to deliver the product.  Not only did the production tooling need to be right, but inspection and monitoring systems needed to be in place to ensure everything is right quality-wise.  Parts and systems had to be scheduled and delivered to meet today’s demands fro one-part flow and JIT delivery.

So where would 3D data make a real difference, and where would it be just nice to have or even irrelevant?   What were the process steps and systems that were essential to getting to this point to get everything up and running?   Which of those are just fine 2D oriented processes, which are best using 3D data and which could be either?  Go to 3D if the benefit outweighs the cost, but for goodness sake, don’t go to 3D just because you can or want to.  

Here’s my assessment of what systems and processes need to be/should be 3D:

2D and 3D Workflows – Many do not require 3D

Note, I have highlighted cells where which I believe represent the sweetspot...  the place top performers will end up.  So what’s the point?  Well the point is that while I fully support the notion of CAD everywhere, as a friend of mine at one of the largest automotive companies likes to say, don’t assume that everything needs to transition to 3D.    The best in class competitors seem to be headed toward intelligently blending 3D data into traditionally 2D workflows.  Notice how many of these are a mix or 2D and 3D. 

Many manufacturing workflows are, and likely always will be 2D.  Companies who do the best job of meeting business requirements such as quality, time to market and cost, simply do a better job of using 3D data where it makes sense.  Many strictly 2D processes can be enhanced with 3D data.  In general, 3D communicates better.   The issue for manufacturing companies is extending workflows and making them easy to engage with.  That is why growth in the use of 3D data has been slower than many have predicted.   The CAD everywhere idea is spot on, but it hasn’t been easy historically to extend 3D beyond engineering to effectively blend 2D and 3D.  That is changing.   I think that is the place we’re going to see tremendous growth in coming years.

What should you do?

Find out how to extend both your 2D and 3D workflows as necessary, to the entire enterprise and outside to suppliers and JVs.  That is where the battle will be won or lost.  Then adopt technology that will allow you to both mix 2D and 3D technology and even more importantly, share it securely.

Your Opinion? 

So, while I admit my table above is not exhaustive, I would like to find out what your experience has been.  Think about whether you have done the things you need to do to extend your workflows smartly across and beyond you enterprise.  Analyze where 3D would improve what you are doing, and then ensure your engineering/manufacturing tools support that need. 

I would like to see some comments on this.  What would be required in your company to improve workflows, regards less of whether they are 2D, 3D or a combination (which is really the holly grail for many firms). 

Let’s start with a definition of PLM.  Dr Michael Grieves in his book Product Lifecycle Management defines PLM this way:

“Product Lifecycle management (PLM) is an integrated, information-driven approach comprised of people, processes/practices, and technology to all aspects of a product’s life, from its design through manufacture, deployment and maintenance – culminating in the product’s removal from service and final disposal.  By trading product information for wasted time, energy, and material across the entire organization and into the supply chain, PLM drives the next generation of lean thinking.”

Well, by that definition, Adobe is certainly not a PLM company.  So why would someone like me, at Adobe blog about PLM?  To understand, please read on.

Adobe’s mission is to revolutionize the way people engage with ideas and information.  A huge part of what Adobe does is vastly extending the reach of customer processes and systems.  I understand what it is like to have to enable global operations.  To share data with suppliers and JV partners.  Here is a picture I created recently to explain what I mean:

Adobe’s mission is to revolutionize the way people engage with ideas and information.  A huge part of what Adobe does is vastly extending the reach of customer processes and systems.  I understand what it is like to have to enable global operations. 

So, despite the fact that Adobe is not a PLM company, what Adobe does absolutely makes PLM solutions more effective.  Almost every entry on this site deals with sharing information and interoperability (almost every data format!) in ways that are difficult and expensive without almost complete ubiquity, and of course, the functionality to make access easy.  My focus at Adobe is manufacturing, and product information is the life blood of the industry. So yes, just like we help extend and solidify such things as legal, HR and purchasing processes, Adobe supports and enhances PLM.  

So the name will remain the same, but there is something I must confess.  The majority of manufacturing business processes are still 2D and many are paper based.  I think I have emphasized 3D data a bit too much, so my next entry will deal with what I see as the current balance of 2D and 3D processes and perhaps and making better use of all product data. 

Today we will pretend we work at a company called Global Corp. Imagine that you are the engineering lead for a project, and you must communicate technical information to suppliers.   I will show you how repurpose 3D content from virtually any CAD format, making it available cross-functionally, with suppliers and joint venture partners virtually anywhere.  In today’s scenario, I will show you how a technical specification created in an MS Office application can be combined with any 2D or 3D content and shared easily and securely across the enterprise.

I have been working with many of our customers who have asked about how to get more out of their investment in 3D CAD and PLM.

Top firms are addressing the issue.  Why?  Here are the top 3 reasons given in a recent Aberdeen study are:

• First, getting work done as soon as possible clearly shortens lead times to market.  There is no waiting for engineering
• Second, addressing things like serviceability and manufacturability earlier and in a much more robust way, dramatically improves quality and customer satisfaction.
• Third, globalization.  3D content greatly enhances understanding and reduces errors.  That runs the gamut from manufacturing work instructions, to service manuals; to user manuals… you name it.

Here are the business challenges our customers are facing:

• Most design today is done in 3D but there’s no easy and intuitive way of communicating in 3D
• Often technical documentation has completed only after products are fully designed and engineered, very late in the product development cycle, so…
• 3D designs are converted to 2D renderings, which are very limiting, and add time to the process of getting new products to market

Aberdeen says that firms who have done the best job of sharing 3D information downstream are meeting their target an average of 90% of the time, or better.  The laggards are way behind, meeting targets only 55% of the time, on average, or worse.

So the reasons are the obvious, better, faster, cheaper.  But how do you avoid the expense and complexity of CAD software to do the job? This is going to be a “how-to” session on doing just that… I will like to show you how to better extend your 3D CAD assets outside of engineering and integrate the product development process across the extended enterprise.

Lets get started...

Today we will pretend we work at a company called Global Corp. Imagine that you are the engineering lead for a project, and you must communicate technical information to suppliers.   I will show you how repurpose 3D content from virtually any CAD format, making it available to suppliers virtually anywhere.  In today’s scenario, the technical specification.  We are going to start in MS Excel. 

Figure 1.  Starting to Create the Specifications Document

We have added the technical parameters.  We are going to add some 3D content, some views and some buttons to easily direct readers to the views we will create.  We have Acrobat 3D installed, so we can use the Acrobat tools to search for and add the 3D content we need to the document.  Notice in Figure 1, we have selected the SolidWorks disc brake assembly we need.  We don’t even need SolidWorks installed to add the 3D content we need. 

Figure 2.  Our Specifications Document with 3D Content Added

Once we select “open” the 3D content is added.  We then resize the 3D pane to obtain the result in Figure 2.  At this point, however, we have just a static image. Our next step will be to convert to PDF.  To do that, we simply chose “create PDF” for the Acrobat Toolbar and off we go.  See Figure 3 to view our 3D PDF.

Figure 3.  Our 3D Technical Specifications PDF

Now we have real, interactive 3D.  Let’s go create some views to help our customers for this document. The idea is to make using the document really easy for the suppliers we are working with.  In figure 4, we have activated the 3D pane, rotated, panned and zoomed to the 3D design just the way we need it.  In fact, we even isolated just some of the parts. Then we have selected Views -> Manage Views to create named views that the user can easily navigate to...  but we’re not done yet.  Lets add some buttons to make navigation intuitive.

Figure 4.  Managing Views

Let’s look at Figure 5 to see the buttons we have added.  I am going to explain the steps I took in this article.  We will explore a little more deeply in a future article.  As a side note, I could have created the buttons and associated the necessary actions in LiveCycle Designer, which ships with Acrobat pro and Acrobat 3D, but for this simple case, Acrobat Forms is all I need, and is a little easier in this case. 

Figure 5.  Buttons Added to The Specifications

After creating three views I wanted, so that I can direct the user to specific areas of the design, I added buttons by first going to View -> Toolbars -> Forms Toolbar.  Then I selected the button tool.  Once selected, I simply sized and positioned the buttons where I wanted them.  I added border and fill colors.  I added labels in the Options Tab… for example “Complete Assembly”.  Then I moved to the  Actions Tab (see figure 6).  I selected “Go to a 3D View”, selected the view I wanted when prompted, for all three buttons and I was done.  So now you have it.  We have completed one simple example of extending the use of three dimensional data across the extended enterprze.  You can imagine all of the additional other things we could do, like adding call-outs, adding additional content from whatever file format or source it is saved in and even more 2 or 3D content.  We can make everything available to the receiver, with out worrying about the applications and formats they may have.  Everything will simply open and work in the free Adobe Reader. 

Figure 6.  Creating Adding the Action to the Button

Well, we’ll stop here today.  I would ask you to not only consider the ease with which we did this work, but I challenge you to find an easier way, anyway.

Comments are always appreciated, including what you would like to see next.