Overview

A regular activity within COE is the work of Committees, such as those under the Development Planning Council (DPC). The DPC consists of committees within the following Process Groups: Product Life; Engineering; Ship, Plant, Fluid Systems; Digital Enterprise Infrastructure; Manufacturing; Advanced Planning. Each Process Group coordinates the work of several committees.

The primary DPC objective is to "assure that the CATIA users' needs for enhanced functionality are properly communicated to the Dassault Systèmes developers." There is a mechanism provided to submit Enhancement Requests (ER).

The purpose for this section of the NewsNet is to report on ERs and their status. DPC activity is voluntary and perhaps not as widely appreciated as it ought to be. Perhaps, these regular reports will elevate the attention level.

In this report, Digital Manufacturing NC (Numerical Control) is detailed as an activity under the Manufacturing Committee.

Digital Manufacturing NC (Numerical Control)

Mark Chitjian, IBM Poughkeepsie, NY and Jim Barkelew, Lockheed Ft. Worth, TX

Those of us in the manufacturing world have an attitude of "get it done" and do "whatever it takes". We like to carry forth this attitude in our approach to the DPC and its associated activities.

Throughout the years, the DMN DPC has developed a series of tools and techniques to facilitate efficient execution of the enhancement request process. We'd like to share with our readers what "works" for us and perhaps others.

Synergy/Linkage with PIC
The DMN DPC has never considered itself a separate entity differentiated from the Manufacturing PICs (Process Interest Committee). Issues and topics discussed in the Manufacturing breakout sessions are often explored in the DPC, and vice versa. There is a mutual sharing of information omnipresent. We are all "manufacturing" guys with common goals...most primarily...get the part "out the door" as fast and economically as possible.

Relationship with DS Development
DMN DPC interacts and communicates with DS development by employing a variety of different tools......

DS Strategic Enhancement Request (SER) Database
The SER Database is where all SERs are entered and created. Each SER is assigned a unique number. This acts as the "official" document of record for all SERs.

Enhancement Request PowerPoint
DMN DPC has created and maintains a PowerPoint file containing all SERs and their status. The PowerPoint file contains a slide containing the SER number, abstract, COE member company and submitter of each request. DMN DPC sends the PowerPoint to DS prior to the conference in order for them to enter their responses. DS updates the file and it is displayed during the Working session of the DPC. The file is then passed on to the DPC chairs for continuation of the process.

Enhancement Request Spreadsheet
In addition to the DS SER Database, the spreadsheet is a portable document containing all SER information. After the SERs are created in the DS database, the chairs enter the information into the spreadsheet. Having all SER information in one document makes immediate management of SERs much easier and efficient. The Excel spreadsheet provides powerful sorting and updating capabilities. The spreadsheet is also sent to DS throughout the year. Member companies can obtain listings of their SERs from the DPC chairs.
We like to think of it as the SER Database in a nutshell.

Top Ten Enhancement Requests
In order for DS to get a quick grasp of the "hot" issues for the member companies, the DPC generates a list of the ten highest prioritized enhancement requests. These requirements are those that the manufacturing community find extremely important to increasing productivity and efficiency in their businesses.

DPC Agenda
The DPC Agenda is a schedule of activities included in the Working and Strategy sessions during the conference. About two to three weeks prior to the conference, the DPC chairs draw up the Agenda and send it to the DS development managers for their review and comments. Usually the Agenda is "tuned" via a series of e-mail exchanges with the developers. The DMN DPC always starts the conference with the Working session. We have been very successful in this approach because the discussion of enhancement requests will generate a greater interest in the future developments discussions given by DS in the following Strategy session. The users "own" the first session (Working) and DS "owns" the second (Strategy). The members are presenting their "needs" first and then DS gets to respond. Following this sequence allows DS to further "tune" their presentations in the Strategy session. The user issues are made very visible and allow DS to respond with greater clarity in their following session.

Communication with COE Members
Communication with DPC members is conducted via telecon and email. Members submitting enhancement requests receive e-mail confirmation from one of the chairs. Included in the e-mail is the SER number created by the DS database. Prior to the conference, the COE Agenda and Top Ten SERs are distributed via e-mail to all the manufacturing members. The distribution list is developed based on prior conference attendance and lists generated by "scans" using the wands provided by COE headquarters at the beginning of each session. The scanned lists are obtained from headquarters a few weeks after the close of the conference. The chairs then update their distribution lists accordingly.

Summary
The DMN DPC continues to strive to make the enhancement request process even better and more efficient. We are currently working with DS on new approaches to prioritizing SERs and presenting them in better fashion. The biggest challenge is that the conference occurs on an annual basis. We have set up "target" dates throughout the year to contact DS development to gain status on all enhancement requests. The DPC effort is ongoing throughout the year.