SAAB Kockums – Reducing lead times in the order-to-delivery process by 50% with an integrated PLM backbone

Situation

Saab Kockums, a business area within Saab, is responsible for designing and manufacturing military surface ships and submarines—products with long lifetimes, up to 40 years. Recognising the need to improve information management and integrate product data management systems consistently, Saab Kockums set a goal to reduce lead times in the order-to-delivery process by 50% for all new products. They recognised the need to treat information as a primary asset.

Problem

Saab Kockums’ current challenge stems from its IT systems landscape, originally designed for document output. Significant changes to the overall IT systems architecture are now required, as model-based development, new production environments, and new working methods are introduced. These changes necessitate designers and engineers to foster cross-discipline collaboration and create the best possible environment for the entire enterprise. This task is particularly challenging as much of the previous work was done in isolation, with information stored in separate “stovepipes.”

Solution

Saab Kockums decided to implement a backbone data architecture to better integrate disciplines and information. A central integration hub in ShareAspace connects and integrates software such as PTC Creo, Windchill, Aveva Marine, Eplan, UpTime, and WeldEye. The backbone’s foundation and core are based on the international standard PLCS (ISO10303:239), Product Life Cycle Support.

Benefits

1. Standard-Based Information Model: Leveraging PLCS as the foundation enables exchange and sharing with any enterprise and system, thanks to its comprehensive schema and openness.
2. Best of Breed: The backbone strategy encourages each domain to select software based on what’s most suitable for them in a platform approach. APIs and interfaces enable modular upgrades and changes.
3. Integration with Memory: ShareAspace consolidates data from several systems and tracks current information in each system, ensuring the correct data is exchanged and shared at all times.

In summary, SAAB, with operations on every continent, serves the global market with world-leading products, services, and solutions from military defence to civil security. Adapting to customers’ changing needs, SAAB continues to refine its operations through initiatives like this.