PLM for Industrial Equipment
For managing complex product configurations, optimizing production processes, and ensuring quality control, and more.
Agility and strategic foresight are essential for maintaining competitiveness in industrial equipment. Companies need to navigate complex supply chains, often spanning multiple countries, to source components and materials while ensuring compliance with stringent regulatory standards across different markets. Resource allocation is crucial, and the pressure to improve time-to-market is immense.
Let’s find out how we can help you achieve your goals in this fast-paced industry.

Tell us about your organization’s challenges
Take a moment to read through the information below, and put a tick against the obstacles you’re ready to overcome. Once we know a bit more about your business, we’d be happy to put a custom demonstration together for you.
Design complexity
3DEXPERIENCE supports the creation of virtual twins, allowing companies to simulate and optimize product designs before physical production. This reduces time-to-market and enhances design accuracy.
Corrosion resistance
Selecting materials and coatings that can endure harsh environmental conditions is critical for ensuring the longevity and reliability of equipment, especially in industries where exposure to corrosive elements is common.
Thermal expansion
Designing components that can withstand temperature fluctuations without compromising structural integrity is key. Selecting materials with compatible thermal expansion coefficients and designing joints and connections that can accommodate movement is vital for precision and safety.
Abaqus
Abaqus provides capabilities to simulate thermal expansion and contraction, enabling designers to predict and mitigate potential issues caused by temperature changes.
Engineering simulation services
Address thermal challenges proactively, ensuring optimal performance, longevity, and reliability of your industrial equipment. Our advanced thermal analysis services provide comprehensive insights into heat behavior within complex systems and components across diverse operational conditions. We specialize in simulating heat generation and dissipation in critical industrial equipment such as engines, turbines, and battery packs, with expertise extending to the design and optimization of efficient cooling solutions.
Stress analysis
Conducting thorough stress analysis helps predict how components will react under various loads and conditions, preventing failures. This ensures safety and durability by identifying potential weak points in the design phase.
SIMULIA offers advanced stress analysis tools that allow engineers to evaluate the structural integrity of components under various loads, ensuring durability and performance.
Engineering simulation services
Our FE experts have wide knowledge of performing both conventional linear elastic static analysis for design verification and highly dynamic non-linear events. With the use of Abaqus Standard and Explicit solvers, behavior such as material non-linearity, e.g., plastic or hyper-elasticity deformations, buckling and post-buckling phenomena, contact interaction problems, and dynamics events can be simulated.
Engineering services
We have a wealth of experience working with and implementing design codes and standards for structural verification of industrial equipment. Our experts can help with interpreting design code requirements, both as a part of ordinary engineering simulation projects with stress verification and also in assignments where guiding documentation is created for the design of equipment according to specific standards/codes.
Fatigue life estimation
Predicting the lifespan of components under cyclic loading involves understanding material fatigue properties and operational conditions. Accurate estimations help in scheduling maintenance and replacements, thereby preventing unexpected failures.
fe-safe
fe-safe provides fatigue analysis to predict the lifespan of components under cyclic loading conditions, helping in designing more reliable products.
Engineering simulation services
We’ll help you assess the lifespan and failure risks of components under repeated loading conditions, ensuring reliability.
Operator comfort
Designing equipment that takes human factors such as noise reduction, vibration control, and intuitive interfaces into consideration can improve usability and reduce operator fatigue, leading to better performance.
Accessibility
Designing for easy maintenance and operation involves creating equipment that allows quick access to critical components. This reduces downtime during repairs or maintenance, improving overall efficiency.
CATIA’s 3D modeling capabilities allow for the simulation of human factors and accessibility features in product designs.
Manufacturing processes
The 3DEXPERIENCE platform supports BIM Level III with multidisciplinary modeling and attribute management. It offers a collaborative model based on data management in a PLM context, enhancing coordination across teams.
CNC milling
Robots are used to place components onto circuit boards with high precision and speed, reducing human error and increasing throughput. However, this requires significant investment in robotic systems and programming expertise.
CATIA provides comprehensive CAD/CAM solutions that include CNC milling simulation, optimizing tool paths and enhancing precision in the manufacturing process.
Turning operations
Automated systems use advanced imaging technologies to inspect products for defects during manufacturing. This ensures high quality but involves integrating sophisticated software and hardware solutions.
CATIA supports turning operations through its CAM capabilities, improving efficiency and accuracy in producing rotational parts.
Automated welding
While automated welding enhances consistency and speed, it can require significant investment in technology and skilled operators to manage the systems effectively.
Adhesive bonding
This process provides flexibility in joining dissimilar materials, but demands precise control over bonding conditions to ensure joint strength and durability.
DELMIA supports the programming and validation of adhesive bonding processes, optimizing material application and ensuring strong, reliable bonds.
In-process inspection
Implementing inspection during manufacturing helps detect defects early, reducing waste and ensuring quality control throughout the production process.
DELMIA includes real-time monitoring tools that facilitate in-process inspection, ensuring quality control throughout the manufacturing process.
Statistical process monitoring
Data-driven approaches to monitor manufacturing processes help maintain control over quality, reducing variability and improving overall product consistency.
DELMIA provides statistical process control capabilities, enabling manufacturers to monitor production metrics and maintain consistency in output quality.
Supply chain management
Vendor audits
Ensuring suppliers meet quality and compliance standards is crucial for maintaining overall product quality.
DELMIA enhances supply chain visibility by enabling detailed vendor audits, ensuring compliance with quality standards.
Material traceability
Tracking materials from source to final product ensures compliance with regulations and supports quality control by enabling manufacturers to trace any issues back to their origins.
DELMIA provides comprehensive material traceability throughout the production process, improving accountability and transparency.
JIT (just-in-time) delivery
This strategy reduces inventory costs but requires precise coordination with suppliers to avoid production delays due to late deliveries.
DELMIA helps optimize inventory levels to support just-in-time delivery practices, reducing waste and storage costs.
Forecasting algorithms
Predict demand accurately, optimizing inventory levels and ensuring efficient supply chain management by aligning production schedules with market needs.
Advanced analytics within DELMIA provide forecasting algorithms that improve demand planning and resource allocation across the supply chain.
Regulatory compliance
Design codes and standards
Interpreting, implementing, and staying compliant with complex and changing design codes and standards across different regions can pose various challenges as organizations aim to balance regulatory requirements with innovation, project timelines, and budget constraints.
Engineering simulation services
We’re well-experienced working with and implementing design codes and standards for structural verification of industrial equipment. Our experts can help with interpreting design code requirements, both as a part of ordinary engineering simulation projects with stress verification and also in assignments where guiding documentation is created for the design of equipment according to specific standards/codes.
Machine guarding
Implementing physical barriers and protective devices around machinery to prevent accidental contact with moving parts. Effective machine guarding not only protects operators but also enhances productivity by minimizing downtime due to accidents.
CATIA helps design systems with integrated safety features like machine guarding by allowing precise modeling of safety components and systems.
Emergency stops
Compliance with safety standards for emergency stops is crucial as it prevents accidents and potential injuries, ensuring that machinery can be safely shut down to avoid further damage or danger.
CATIA helps design systems with integrated safety features like machine guarding by allowing precise modeling of safety components and systems.
Emissions control
Implementing technologies that minimize emissions of harmful pollutants helps protect the environment and public health. Manufacturers must stay updated with evolving regulations and invest in cleaner technologies to ensure compliance and avoid legal penalties.
SIMULIA simulation tools help design systems that comply with emissions regulations by optimizing processes to reduce environmental impact.
Waste disposal
Proper waste disposal practices are necessary for compliance with environmental regulations and for minimizing the environmental impact of manufacturing processes. Effective waste management not only helps in regulatory compliance but also supports sustainability efforts by reducing landfill use.
LCA (lifecycle assessment) and virtual twin technology help to assess the environmental impact of machinery throughout its lifecycle. Use data-driven insights from advanced simulations of real-world environments to make better decisions about waste management processes.
Maintenance and service
Vibration monitoring
By analyzing vibration patterns, maintenance teams can detect abnormalities that indicate wear or damage, allowing for timely interventions. This proactive approach reduces downtime, extends equipment life, and improves overall reliability by preventing unexpected breakdowns.
DELMIA provides tools for digital manufacturing, allowing companies to simulate and optimize production workflows, reducing labor costs and increasing efficiency through automation.
Thermal imaging
By capturing temperature variations, thermal imaging allows maintenance personnel to identify areas of concern quickly. This technique enhances maintenance efficiency by enabling targeted repairs, reducing the risk of equipment failure, and ensuring safe operation.
3DEXPERIENCE supports lean manufacturing principles by providing tools for process optimization and waste reduction. It helps identify non-value-added activities and streamline operations, thus enhancing quality while reducing costs.
Wireless connectivity
By implementing wireless connectivity, manufacturers can reduce the need for physical inspections, as data on equipment performance can be accessed remotely. This leads to quicker response times for maintenance issues, improved decision-making through data analytics, and overall increased productivity.
DELMIA supports seamless communication and data exchange in manufacturing environments, enabling Industry 4.0 solutions through real-time monitoring of operations, integration of IoT devices for data collection, and augmented reality applications to enhance training and production efficiency.
Cloud-based platforms
Cloud-based platforms enable the aggregation and analysis of vast amounts of data collected from connected devices. This supports predictive maintenance strategies by allowing for advanced analytics and machine learning applications to identify potential issues before they result in equipment failure.
DELMIA’s cloud-based solutions offer a centralized environment for managing manufacturing operations by aggregating data for advanced analytics and predictive maintenance, facilitating real-time collaboration across teams, and using virtual twin technology to optimize processes and reduce downtime.
Sustainability
Optimization and lightweighting
Manufacturers must optimize designs to minimize material waste, reduce costs, and improve energy efficiency while ensuring the equipment can withstand operational stresses, fatigue, and environmental conditions.
Engineering services
Applying optimization algorithms, our engineering experts help clients identify ways to reduce weight while maintaining or enhancing performance and safety.
Modular construction
This approach enhances sustainability by extending the life of equipment through the use of standardized components that can be reused or replaced as needed. Modular designs also simplify manufacturing processes and reduce waste, aligning with sustainability goals by promoting resource efficiency.
CATIA supports modular design practices by allowing users to create standardized components that facilitate easy assembly and disassembly, promoting sustainability through efficient use of materials.
Standardized components
Using standardized components in equipment design supports sustainability by enabling easier repairs and replacements. Standardization reduces the need for custom parts, minimizing production complexity and inventory requirements.
CATIA enhances the use of standardized components by providing a robust platform for designing and managing parts libraries.
Recyclability
By incorporating recyclability into the design process, manufacturers can significantly reduce waste and environmental impact, aligning with sustainability goals. This approach not only conserves resources but also reduces the need for raw material extraction, thereby lowering the overall carbon footprint.
CATIA is used to design products for disassembly, ensuring materials can be recycled efficiently to reduce waste.
Refurbishment programs
By implementing refurbishment programs, manufacturers can reduce waste and resource consumption by reusing existing products instead of producing new ones. This supports a circular economy model, where products are kept in use for longer periods, minimizing environmental impact and promoting sustainability.
3DEXPERIENCE supports refurbishment programs by simplifying the tracking and management of components suitable for reuse or refurbishment.
Let's solve your challenges, together
This page lists some of the most common challenges in the Industrial equipment industry. If all of this sounds a lot like your business, don’t worry, you’re not alone!
How do we know? We’ve worked with hundreds of businesses across Industrial equipment industries, and we’ve solved all of these challenges before. We’d love to work together with you to implement a solution that set you up for success.