Case Summary
The Challenge
When customers requested quotes or placed orders, they frequently asked for 2D drawings to validate specifications. Producing these drawings was a bottleneck.
Engineers had to manually convert 3D CAD models into 2D drawings, a process that was time-consuming, required specialized skills, and typically took four to five days. Even for similar configurations, drawings had to be created from scratch. This manual approach relied heavily on engineering teams, lacked standardization, and often led to delays in moving projects forward.
The client needed to reduce lead times, remove manual steps, and ensure uniform outputs that met their manufacturing standards. That’s when they decided to bring in SLK.
The Solution
SLK partnered with the client to build an automated drawing system that tied together CAD modeling, PLM, and drawing generation in a seamless workflow.
The solution was architected using Siemens Teamcenter for product lifecycle management and NX for CAD design. Development followed NX industry practices along with client-specific C/C++ standards to ensure the system was compatible, maintainable, and performed reliably.Now, once engineers finalize and release a 3D model in the PLM system, the process runs automatically in the background. It updates key model dimensions and product manufacturing information (PMI)—including tolerances, surface finishes, and materials—based on input parameters and configuration rules. The system then generates the 2D drawings, updates them into the PLM, and sends a notification to engineering teams by email letting them know the drawings are complete and ready.
By automating these steps end-to-end, the client eliminated manual rework and reduced turnaround times from days to just minutes, even for complex orders.
