Using SolidWorks the number of physical prototypes was reduced more than 50 percent
Easier communication with suppliers and customers
SolidWorks Costing module gives us good guidelines about the cost of production of new items
“One of the the major benefits of using SolidWorks both from a time and cost saving perspective has been to be able to reduce the number of physical prototypes by more than 50 percent. Our goal is to deliver verified prototypes for physical testing. We have already cut down drastically on the number of prototypes and we expect to reduce further.”
VÄLJAKUTSE
Reac is headquartered in the Danish city of Herning and was founded as a traditional blacksmith company named Balle A/S in 1996. In 2006, the company changed its strategy to become a manufacturing company specializing in the development and production of lift and tilt systems for lifting seats in power wheel chairs. Development processes had to be optimized to facilitate the transition of Reac A/S from being a more traditional small blacksmith company to become a contract manufacturer.
LAHENDUS
With SolidWorks, the development time has been drastically reduced and the company’s dialogue with subcontractors and customers has become better and more effective.
“During the transition from forging to production activities we realized that the way we were doing production drawings was grossly insufficient. The drawings were often just sketches on paper. We decide to implement 3D CAD to make the development process effective and to be able to use 3D models as a communications tool both internally and in relation to sales and marketing. We needed a tool to facilitate easily understandable visual communication,” says Daniel Egebjerg, Technical Manager at Reac.
The choice for SolidWorks was partly determined by the CAD system’s ease of use and partly that the system would cover all of Reac’s needs in product development. The use of SolidWorks is constantly being broadened, and especially the Costing module is effective for the company:
“We are using Costing more and more. The module gives us good guidelines about the cost of production of new items. We can perform the assessments necessary to make decisions faster and we do not have to communicate back and forth with suppliers around prices. It saves a lot of time and frustration,” says Daniel Egebjerg.
According to Daniel Egebjerg one of the the major benefits of using SolidWorks both from a time and cost saving perspective has been to be able to reduce the number of physical prototypes by more than 50 percent. “Our goal is to deliver verified prototypes for physical testing. We have already cut down drastically on the number of prototypes and we expect to reduce further.”
A major benefit of using SolidWorks besides time and cost savings is more effective communication processes both internally between the development and production departments and externally to suppliers and customers. “We have achieved much more effective workflows by communicating in 3D. It also gives a more clear understanding of development projects for new participants,” explains Daniel Egebjerg.
Today, communication with customers is largely based on 3D models and Daniel Egebjerg stresses that it has contributed to much a better understanding from Reacs customers of the company’s products.
