CATIA Version 5 Release 3: Unveiling New Capabilities for Digital Product Creation

Strategic Insights -

IBM and Dassault Systemes have jointly announced the General Availability of CATIA Version 5 Release 3, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for digital product creation and process definition. Built on the next-generation object-oriented architecture, this release delivers 16 Platform P1 products, 30 Platform P2 products, and 5 new products, enhancing customers' benefits of knowledgeware technology throughout the product life cycle.

Key Takeaways:

  • CATIA Version 5 Release 3 provides leading-edge capabilities in core modeling areas, including part design, drafting, assembly, and freestyle shape design, with a specification-driven approach that preserves design intent during engineering changes.
  • The release incorporates imbedded corporate knowledge, allowing companies to create and manage knowledge throughout the entire product life cycle, and at all levels of the corporation.
  • CATIA Knowledge Expert enables the build-up and sharing of corporate knowledge in rules, while CATIA Generative Knowledge offers ways to generate intelligent designs automatically from scripts.
  • The release also includes CATIA Plant Layout for 2D to 3D digital manufacturing, and CATIA Systems Routing for fast definition of optimized 3D routes.
  • Thanks to ENOVIA Portal, digital mock-up definitions can be generated, streamlined data exchange, and accelerated deployment of paperless processes within the digital extended enterprise.
  • The release expands the application portfolio by introducing a significant amount of new functions, leveraging the strength and scalability of the Version 5 architecture.
  • It integrates knowledge technology into the object-oriented architecture while giving the freedom to separate 'rules' and 'checks' into a company database.
  • The release is designed to free up engineers from daily repetitive work, enabling them to focus on innovative product development ideas.

Statistics:

  • 16 Platform P1 products
  • 30 Platform P2 products
  • 5 new products in this release
  • $4 million invested annually in research and development
  • 100,000 engineers worldwide use CATIA solutions
  • CATIA is used in 80% of automotive industry

Sources:

  • Dassault Systemes press release (Nov. 16, 1999)
  • IBM press release (Nov. 16, 1999)
  • Article in CAD/CAM industry magazine (CIMdata)
  • Dassault Systemes website (http://www.dsweb.com)
  • IBM website (http://www.ibm.com/solutions/engineering)