IFS Launches CAD Integration/PDM Tool

By DE Editors

IFS (Schaumburg, IL) announced the North American beta launch of SOA-based CAD integration for its enterprise suite, IFS Applications, for CAD support. General availability is due in early 2009.

IFS leverages web services built into its service-oriented architecture (SOA) to share product data management (PDM) data common to both engineering and manufacturing, resulting in “real time CAD to PDM” integration. The interface can be accessed from many CAD applications, and various CAD tools can share standardized PDM data and functionality within IFS Applications. PDM tools are often proprietary to CAD platforms, which can create vendor lock-in.

IFS plug-in adapters support multiple CAD platforms, including AutoCAD, AutoCAD Inventor,  Pro/ENGINEER, and SolidWorks, allowing each to access the same web services within IFS Applications to access PDM and engineering data stored in IFS Applications in real time.

For further details, contact IFS North America.

Sources:  Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.