Contract manufacturer Magna Steyr automates data export and import in Teamcenter with OpenDXM GlobalX

More than just a CAD data exchange tool

The contract manufacturer makes the CAD data available to its exchange partners in either native formats or in the neutral STEP format, depending on whether or not the recipients have appropriate CAD licenses. Teamcenter also offers the option of converting CATIA and NX data into the JT format and distributing it via the data exchange solution. This option is primarily used by internal departments, e.g. for visualization purposes or automated geometry checks.

OpenDXM GlobalX is no longer merely a tool for exchanging CAD data, it is also used to quickly exchange confidential data of any kind with partners. This could, for example, be the data used to prepare requests for quotation, which the purchasing department makes available to suppliers for a certain period of time. The buyers use the integration in Windows Explorer and effortlessly save their quotes in the folders for the partners in question using copy and paste. OpenDXM GlobalX offers the option of creating  recipients on an ad hoc basis. This is, however, currently only being used by colleagues in France, for whom the data exchange team has defined special methods.

The data exchange platform at Magna in Graz is installed with a central server that all exchange partners have to log onto and a FileVault that is used to make the encrypted data available. In order to reduce latency when transferring data to Asia Pacific, a local FileVault, which is connected to the European FileVault using dedicated lines, has also been set up there. This is also where Asian customers and their suppliers can retrieve and also upload data. This has the added advantage that fewer problems with the "great Chinese firewall" are encountered, says Burlon. A similar solution for American partners is currently being developed.

The architecture of the solution makes it possible for partners in Asia to exchange data in a fully decentralized manner and without synchronizing it with the central installation in Graz. This allows them to use OpenDXM GlobalX as their central data exchange platform.

As an alternative to decentralized FileVaults, thought was also given to using OpenDXM GlobalX as a SaaS solution. However, in view of the huge amounts of data that would have to be constantly uploaded to and downloaded from the cloud, the data exchange team decided against it, says Burlon. "In Europe, using the cloud is a question of cost, whereas in Asia it is primarily a question of security."

Data volume of 190 terabytes in a single year

A total of approximately 7,000 external partners have been set up in OpenDXM GlobalX. These are not companies but rather individuals; around 5,000 employees use the data exchange solution internally. The design engineers normally initiate the data exchange processes themselves, unless they are triggered automatically or on the basis of their status. The data exchange team is primarily responsible for setting up new partners and making methods and tools available. It only provides the specialist departments with larger assemblies and modules if they are required on a regular basis.

As the size of models increases, the volume of data exchanged has also risen continuously in recent years, says Burlon. "Last year alone, we exchanged over 190 terabytes of data via OpenDXM GlobalX. There has also been a significant increase in the number of exchange processes due to the fact that the data exchange solution is now used to handle everything. A data exchange job is executed about every five seconds."

In Graz, OpenDXM GlobalX's batch processing framework (BPF) was used to automate data export from Teamcenter and processes like converting the data to neutral formats with the aim of minimizing the effort involved in data exchange.

It is, however, also possible to start all the processes interactively. When a data exchange process is started, OpenDXM GlobalX automatically checks whether or not the data has been approved for export, or whether it is "provisional" data that is not to be released.

Automating data exchange processes

Magna's IT team in Graz also uses OpenDXM GlobalX's technology to automate data transfer processes. The company provides some of its partners with a OpenDXM GlobalX robot that they can use to download their data automatically. "We also use the robot to pick up data from one of our customers," says Burlon. "These standard data provision processes are one of OpenDXM GlobalX's unique selling points, for which we are very grateful. If we had to download 200 GB of data per day interactively, it would be extremely time-consuming and prone to errors. It would probably take us five or six hours."

In the future, it is intended that the connector between Teamcenter and OpenDXM GlobalX also be used to fully automate data import into the PLM solution. At the moment, the data that is received is stored in a certain area and prepared in line with the requirements of the respective project, i.e. converted into the STEP format, for example, or saved as compressed ZIP files for downstream processes in SAP. Once these preparations have been completed, the data can be imported into Teamcenter automatically using the programming interface from ITK. The aim is to replace the jumble of different tools and processes with OpenDXM GlobalX. "My vision is to develop a standard solution for automated import that can be adapted flexibly to what the respective customer provides and what the respective department needs," says Burlon.

Magna's Complete Vehicle group is very happy with the new data exchange platform. The company did not perform an ROI assessment before switching to OpenDXM GlobalX as the processes had already been automated to a great extent. "If we had wanted to perform them manually, we would have had to triple the size of our team and even then we would still not be fast enough," says Burlon. "The speed with which we can make the initial data available to the specialist departments at the start of a project is the greatest benefit that the data exchange platform provides – in addition to the security aspect. Without OpenDXM GlobalX, it would be impossible to perform initial data population with an appropriate level of security."