Work management helps Japanese telco manufacturer increase competitive advantage

Oki Electric Industry Ltd. is developing products more quickly and efficiently with work management technology.

Oki Electric is Japan's oldest manufacturer of telecommunications systems and electronic devices, 21,000 employees strong.

To help manage and control product data and the product development process, and communicate design through manufacturing to all facets of the business Oki has combined a PDM system with an ERP system.

CAD data, drawings and specifications, product design and engineering processes are shared among groups of workers using Structural Dynamics' (SDRC) Metaphase PDM system. Design processes like drawing review, recognition and visual management are also automated.

The result is an engineering environment based on standardization and collaboration.

Integration with a Baan IV enterprise ERP system links product information to sales and production management, extending the process automation benefits into the supply chain.

The new collaboration-enhanced infrastructure of product information will give Oki workers faster access to design-related work while streamlining and accelerating engineering and production processes.

The result is increased productivity, reduced time to market and a new competitive advantage, according to Hiroshi Nojiri, a general manager in Oki's Engineering Division System Business Group.

Future plans call for the construction of a PDM-based knowledge management system to further streamline product development, he added.

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