Aligning the structure externally

Teamcenter structure data can be aligned with data in external business and bill of materials (BOM) releasing systems. A CAD designer is responsible for creating and maintaining the CAD view of the product data, while the release engineer uses the BOM to identify the actual parts required to manufacture the physical product. The BOM system is often the backbone of the company, as it drives manufacturing, purchasing, costing, logistic, and other related functions. BOM systems normally contain usage information, while the CAD and PLM systems contain part and design data. The CAD system includes data about detailed part geometry and configured part positions. It allows users to view 3D models in a structure, determine how parts fit or do not fit with parts around them, and identify a part location in a given assembly by coordinates. It does not allow users to make global where-used searches or identify the parts that fit together in a particular assembly. The BOM system allows users to identify if a part is used on a given product, to determine which parts can be used together, to view every application of a part globally, and to view change history. It does not include information about parts in the context of surrounding parts or location coordinates. In a typical company, business (BOM) data and engineering (CAD) data overlap but are not well aligned. Users of one system must obtain the data they need from the other system. Business users can then quickly visualize and correlate business status and engineering status of development programs. They can then determine completeness of these programs; that is, if you have designed all the parts necessary for all the combinations to build. They can also validate the design against order processing and confirm that all the parts fit for a specific product configuration. Change and release management processes can be connected to the visual representation, making virtual builds easier to maintain.