PTC has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing product development within the automotive and industrial sectors through its recent partnership with Schaeffler, a venerable leader in these industries. Schaeffler has opted to adopt PTC’s Windchill+® product lifecycle management (PLM) solution, a significant move that underscores its ongoing digital transformation efforts aimed at modernising product development practices while accelerating time to market.
This transition marks an evolution away from Schaeffler’s legacy on-premises Windchill® environment, embracing a cloud-based solution that promises unique advantages in deployment speed and collaborative capability. “Schaeffler’s adoption of Windchill+ represents the next step in the strategic relationship our companies have shared for more than a decade,” stated Neil Barua, President and CEO of PTC. He expressed confidence that Windchill+’s features, which facilitate collaboration and continuous updates with the newest functionalities, will empower Schaeffler to refine its product development processes further.
The relationship between PTC and Schaeffler has evolved dramatically over the past decade, with the latter utilising PTC’s software to pioneer advanced automotive products, including sophisticated engine, transmission, chassis systems, and electric drives. This partnership looks poised for further expansion following Schaeffler’s anticipated merger with Vitesco Technologies in October 2024, which is expected to enhance both companies’ capabilities.
Schaeffler’s commitment to innovation is repeatedly evident. As noted by Rainer Eidloth, Senior Vice President Engineering Digitalisation & IT at Schaeffler, “Accelerating the product development process and embracing a cloud-first strategy are two of our highest priorities.” He added that the collaboration with PTC is crucial as they shift to Windchill+ to enhance their product portfolio.
The implications of this partnership extend into the realm of artificial intelligence and data management. Both companies have signalled intentions to collaborate on AI-driven product development initiatives, harnessing the product data curated across PTC’s development framework to further streamline and accelerate Schaeffler’s product lifecycle. The broader adoption of Digital Twin technologies, essential for visualising 3D models and integrating augmented reality, illustrates the depth of their collaboration, further enabling Schaeffler to respond agilely to shifting market demands.
Additionally, Schaeffler aims to leverage PTC’s advanced applications to cultivate a comprehensive, end-to-end IT landscape within its operations. The transformation will see them move from custom engineering IT methodologies to standardised applications that promise more efficient workflows, enhanced innovation capability, and improved alignment with global safety regulations. This strategic move is poised to solidify Schaeffler’s position as a leading, digitally-savvy organisation in the automotive industry.
In summary, the flourishing partnership between Schaeffler and PTC exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to embracing digital transformation within the automotive sector. As industries grapple with rapid technological advancements, the commitment to leveraging cloud-based solutions such as Windchill+ will likely be a significant factor in maintaining competitive advantage and achieving operational excellence.
By investing in modern technologies and collaborative frameworks, Schaeffler is not only reinforcing its legacy of innovation but also paving the way for future developments that resonate with contemporary consumer and market needs.
Reference Map
- Paragraph 1: [1], [3]
- Paragraph 2: [1], [3]
- Paragraph 3: [1], [2], [4]
- Paragraph 4: [1], [3], [5]
- Paragraph 5: [2], [4], [6]
- Paragraph 6: [3], [4], [5]
- Paragraph 7: [2], [4], [5]
Source: Noah Wire Services
Subscribe to Industry Updates
