Nov. 9, 2010 06:00 UTC

Bell Helicopter Improves Collaboration and Time-to-Market with Dassault Systèmes V6 PLM Platform

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, announced today that Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, is using its V6 PLM platform to improve collaboration and decrease the amount of time it takes to bring a new helicopter to market. As part of an effort to improve business processes and update systems across the company, Bell Helicopter is leveraging Dassault Systèmes’ full range of brands, including ENOVIA V6, CATIA V6, DELMIA V6, 3DVIA V6, and SIMULIA V6.

Through its Business Systems Modernization project, Bell Helicopter is consolidating its technology systems and upgrading outdated software in order to increase its manufacturing capacity, reduce time-to-market and enhance collaboration with business partners. Looking for maximum efficiency and ROI, Bell Helicopter chose Dassault Systèmes’ V6 for its flexible PLM backbone and the large degree of out-of-the-box, specialized functionality for the aerospace industry. The project will eventually be deployed to 6,000 users in the Texas cities of Fort Worth and Amarillo, as well as Mirabel, Quebec, Canada.

“We sought a PLM solution that could facilitate collaboration across the extended supply chain, reduce unnecessary costs during the design and production process and increase innovation,” said Bennie Peek, CIO, Bell Helicopter. “This partnership with Dassault Systèmes enables us to meet increased global demand for our aircraft and create a single version of the truth for our product data.”

Bell Helicopter plans to leverage Dassault Systèmes’ ENOVIA solution portfolio to consolidate data into one system, which will manage the engineering bill-of-materials (BOM) and allow for full traceability across business disciplines - from contracts and requirements to the final product. Dassault Systèmes’ DELMIA solution portfolio will be used for machining and ergonomics, 3DVIA for illustrated planning and work instructions, CATIA for product authoring and SIMULIA’s simulation lifecycle management solution for enterprise wide management of engineering simulation data and processes.

“Manufacturers in fast-paced industries are increasingly realizing the value of a full, pervasive PLM infrastructure, and V6 is unmatched in the breadth of functionality and collaborative options it provides,” said Al Bunshaft, managing director, Americas, Dassault Systèmes. “Bell Helicopter will benefit from a single platform for intellectual property management, improved internal and external collaboration, increased reuse and full traceability.”

As de facto leader for PLM solutions in the aerospace and defense industry for over 25 years, Dassault Systèmes delivers integrated solutions to accelerate the development of innovative products, giving them greater market success. As innovation can't be separated from demand management, production, and maintenance, Dassault Systèmes’ A&D PLM solutions include business process management, cutting-edge solutions for design authoring, engineering, manufacturing planning and after-sales services.

About Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.

About Dassault Systèmes

As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 115,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes applications provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product - SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design - DELMIA for virtual production - SIMULIA for virtual testing - ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com.

CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, SolidWorks and 3D VIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.

Source: Dassault Systèmes

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