Fujitsu helps to prevent product development flaws

TOKYO, JAPAN: Fujitsu Limited, a provider of IT-based business solutions for the global marketplace and Fujitsu Nagano Systems Engineering Limited today announced the addition of a new function to their PLEMIA M3 series, an integrated product-data management system solution for the manufacturing industry that was released in 2009.

The new function consists of product development support functions to smoothly facilitate the conceptual phase overseeing design composition to meet product specifications.

PLEMIA M3's new function helps users to prevent product flaws found during the development of previous products and smoothly refer to validated information such as the product's durability, thereby reducing the need for revisions resulting from design mistakes and aiding in the standardization of parts.

In addition, the new function would make it possible to cut costs originating from the initial planning stages of new product development, as well as increase the level of product quality, said a press release.

When developing products within the manufacturing industry, a set of specifications are initially drafted indicating the type of product to be made.

The direction, parts, and method required to meet these specifications are looked at during the conceptual phase which takes place prior to the detail phase. Majority of product material and maintenance costs are also determined during this phase. After gathering different kinds of information, multiple designs are developed and the best design must be selected in the end.

However, due to inadequacies in sharing reference materials and design-related information, such as flaw prevention measures and test data, the basis of selection was in most cases left up to the individual's personal experience, allowing years of accumulated product development know-how to remain untapped.

Fujitsu and Fujitsu Nagano Systems Engineering are providing the PLEMIA M3 series to resolve these kinds of challenges in product development, said the release.

By helping to visualize and manage product information, designer workloads, and design processes, PLEMIA M3 reduces costs and the time needed to develop products. In the latest version of PLEMIA M3, Fujitsu is delivering a new function to help facilitate the conceptual phase of product design, thereby allowing smoother overall product development.

The new solution would be available starting this March, the release added.