ANCA Motion increase workflow efficiency using Aras PLM

  • Category: PLM
  • Client: ANCA Motion
Since 1974, ANCA Motion has been designing and manufacturing mechatronic systems for controlling world class CNC machines. Their control systems are used on a number of applications ranging from complex 5 axes machine tools to 2 axes profile cutters and single axis stand alone applications.
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The Challenge

The company was utilising a paper-based system to control the product data configuration and change processes. This proved an unsatisfactory method of managing configuration items as well as engineering change and interfaces to other internal operational systems such as MRP / ERP functions. ANCA Motion recognised a need to improve some workflow inefficiencies and began their search for a PLM system to facilitate these improvements.

The Solution

In 2010, ANCA Motion chose to pilot the Aras Innovator PLM solution to develop a customised manufacturing CM system for managing product, software and process data. They chose Aras Innovator based upon its unique combination of platform architecture, functionality, ability to extend across the enterprise and its cost / value proposition. Flexibility and an open development platform were also crucial. Throughout the pilot phase, Aras Innovator has been used as their enterprise configuration management system tool within their operational environment. ANCA Motion used Aras over a 12 month period for managing product data, configuration management, engineering change and other operational aspects of their business. A direct result was to gain valuable experience and realise the flexibility and openness of the Aras tool. Ways in which they are using Aras include:

  • Basic part, BOM and Document Management, including a nightly sync with MFG and Pro ERP systems.
  • Non-Conformance management
  • Collaboration on reviewing ECRs and ECNs
  • Exporting information from Aras to other applications such as Excel
  • Profit Improvement tracking
  • Deviation Management
  • Meeting Manager
  • Management / Bug Tracking system

The Result

The implementation, ongoing training and technical support that Matrix provided to setup the Aras Innovator pilot resulted in a very successful project. ANCA Motion worked with Matrix to continue the development and successful deployment of Innovator, allowing them to:

  • manage 8,000 parts with 30,000 BOM lines
  • implement a custom non-conformance reporting system including reporting dashboards
  • work thoroughly on improving system usability, eg, tooltips on all forms to help users, adding a signoff tab on all forms.
As a result of the training and support provided by Matrix, ANCA Motion are now a subscribed client of Matrix and Aras, and are able to complete a large portion of the development themselves. Future plans for ANCA Motion and Aras are rolling out a better Change Management policy to all users in conjunction with SolidWorks. This will offer potential to roll Aras Innovator out to their parent company and interface with an existing PLM application.