One such story is that of Extronics, an innovative company who specialise in creating products suitable for use in hazardous areas.
Nick Saunders, Operations Director at Extronics, shares their journey towards harnessing the power of design automation to maximise design efficiency and boost sales.
The Genesis of Innovation
Extronics' commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions in hazardous environments led them on a transformative path.
As the company embraced wireless technology, the realisation dawned that embracing a digital transformation was essential.
"Bringing wireless technology into hazardous areas isn’t easy,” notes Nick Saunders, “Extronics made a conscious decision to invest in technology to streamline this process.”
Streamlining Processes with DriveWorks
While working with hazardous areas where explosive gas and dust are present, Extronics delved deeper into their digitalisation strategy.
They recognized the need for a tool that could streamline processes and ensure consistent, safe outputs for their customers.
The turning point came with the adoption of DriveWorks design automation software.
"DriveWorks is a tool that allows us to accelerate our digitalisation strategy," affirmed Stuart Milne, Extronics’ Marketing Manager.
SOLIDWORKS Integration: A Decisive Factor
Extronics have long been working with SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD software to design and model their products.
This familiarity played a crucial role in their decision to opt for DriveWorks.
"All of our CAD models are SOLIDWORKS. It makes sense for us to go with something that integrates particularly well with SOLIDWORKS," explained Nick.
This seamless integration between DriveWorks and SOLIDWORKS is a key factor for many designers and engineers when scouting for design automation software.
Did you know? DriveWorks Xpress is included with every version of SOLIDWORKS so you can get started with design automation today!
Automating Complex Processes
One of the most remarkable outcomes of implementing DriveWorks was the automation of complex assessment processes.
What previously took days to complete could now be achieved in a matter of minutes.
"DriveWorks allowed us to take a relatively complicated assessment process for the product and reduce that down to a matter of minutes," stated Nick.
Enhancing Customer Experience
When we visited Extronics, their passion and dedication to enhancing their customers’ experience was clear. They cemented this position when they introduced a 3D configurator on their website, powered by DriveWorks.
This feature enables customers to configure their desired products even before engaging with the company.
"A customer, before even speaking to us, can configure their product and really understand what it is that we're doing for them," Nick continued.
Alignment of Sales and Manufacturing
With DriveWorks, Extronics found a tool that aligned their sales and manufacturing efforts seamlessly.
By automating engineering tasks, the company ensured consistent outputs for customers.
With outputs that are automated and rule-based, Extronics can ensure that the customer gets exactly what they request.
DriveWorks helps to align discrete processes and create a single stream of reliable and accurate information to help manufacturers and designers accelerate production and grow their business.
Community Support and Resources
Extronics found immense value in the DriveWorks community, leveraging forums, tech tips, and events like DriveWorks World.
Nick highlighted the benefit of getting answers from fellow users and DriveWorks experts. "The DriveWorks community has been a great resource for helping us with our implementation," they shared.
Between the community and the specialist support offered by Solid Solutions, Extronics have been able to make the most of their expertise and build relationships to rely on when technical and operational challenges arise.
A Fulfilling Transformation
Extronics' adoption of DriveWorks has led to significant enhancements across their operations. By automating intricate processes, improving customer-facing aspects, and aligning internal efforts, the company has truly embraced innovation.
"DriveWorks has allowed us to do things that we couldn't do previously and has provided us with consistent outputs for our customers," an enthused Nick concluded.
The journey navigated by Extronics exemplifies the power of design automation in propelling businesses towards a future driven by efficiency, innovation, and customer-centricity.
As technology continues to advance, it is companies like Extronics, with the flexibility to recognise challenges and adapt their processes to overcome them, who will capitalise on this advancement to continue to drive innovation.
Learn more about Extronics and how they utilise SOLIDWORKS and design automation by visiting their website.
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