A Lingua Franca For PLM Vendors and Manufacturers?
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A Lingua Franca For PLM Vendors and Manufacturers?

A Lingua Franca For PLM Vendors and Manufacturers?

Boldly declaring "the use of closed technology a thing of the past," UGS PLM Solutions and other PLM industry vendors and global manufacturers launched JT Open, a global initiative designed to promote open data sharing, enhance collaboration and expand visualization across extended enterprises and throughout the PLM industry.

JT is a common data format for enabling product visualization and information distribution and enhancing data sharing between PLM software applications. The robust functionality and lightweight nature of JT technology (theoretically) make it possible to view and share product data and dynamic images worldwide, in real-time, and throughout all phases of the product lifecycle.

"The announcement of JT Open is a pivotal and ground-breaking step in our ongoing drive to maximize the value of PLM through open solutions," said Tony Affuso, president and CEO, UGS PLM Solutions. "We are gratified to see so many important industry leaders join us in a shared vision to define, promote and deploy open formats and software applications. We believe the result of openness in the PLM industry will inevitably reduce product developments costs and enhance product quality and innovation worldwide. As the PLM industry continues to evolve and mature, increasingly the use of closed technology is a thing of the past."

JT Open is an initiative driven by those with a vested interest in the PLM industry that have adopted the JT format. In addition to UGS PLM Solutions, initial members include Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Actify, Alias, and PTC, as well as academic members Brigham Young University, Technical University Darmstadt, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the University of Michigan. DaimlerChrysler has committed to join the JT Open program and intends to participate in 2004.

Membership in JT Open is available to all end-user corporations, independent software vendors (ISVs), and non-profit organizations. In addition, many other companies that derive indirect value from the initiative can participate as "JT Open Advocates". Initial JT Open Advocates include CIMx, Elysium, HP, Intel, SAP, Tecnomatix, and Theorem.

One organization with a special interest in the JT Open program is the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), an organization focused on the prosperity of the global automotive industry. AIAG was instrumental in the formation of JT Open.

JT Open is being created to benefit all organizations associated with PLM regardless of the industry they represent. While every JT Open member shares a common goal, each brings a unique viewpoint regarding the need for open solutions and the types of benefits they create.

More information about JT Open can be found at http://www.jtopen.com/ -- A public Webcast will be held on December 3, 2003.

All of this sounds like an excellent cooperative start, but it will be interesting to see how and if all of the players will continue to play well together as events unfold and things evolve.


A "Technology of the Year" From PTC

For a company in need of some good news, PTC's Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire was recognized in INDUSTRYWEEK's 11th annual Technology and Innovation Awards Program. The editors of the manufacturing management magazine selected Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire as one of the five Technologies of the Year for 2003. This award marks the second time that PTC has received an award for "Technology of the Year," as Pro/ENGINEER won in 1993.

To select the winners, INDUSTRYWEEK editors solicit reader nominations for a judging process, designed to recognize outstanding achievement in technology. To be eligible, candidate technologies must relate in a significant way to accomplishments and achievements in the current year.

"We're proud to showcase technologies that significantly improve the way in which companies develop and manufacture their products," said Patricia Panchak, editor-in-chief of INDUSTRYWEEK. "Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire is a technology that clearly helps manufacturers connect their product development to strategic business goals, and we're pleased to reward PTC for its efforts."

Winners of INDUSTRYWEEK's Technology and Innovation Awards span a wide range of science and engineering. The editors seek developments that show great potential for re-directing business opportunities and creating new growth in the manufacturing world. Represented among the winners are technologies with the potential for creating new industries, and commercial products that represent bellwethers for fundamental change.

Besides PTC, the other winners for outstanding technologies included:
New Autodesk Software and Services For Manufacturing

Incorporating the requests of thousands of customers, Autodesk this week announced its next generation of manufacturing software products and services, and include: This is a slew of new products from Autodesk for mechanical design. I am very familiar with Inventor, and the new releases should help them catch up with the competition, especially the new cable and harness capabilities. AutoCAD Mechanical 2004 DX is a good 2D design product optimized for mechanical design, and further proof that 2D design is still alive with a good lifespan ahead.


Along with New Products, Autodesk Also Reports Good Financial Results

Autodesk announced that revenue for its fiscal third quarter ended October 31, 2003 totaled $234 million, a 10 percent sequential increase, compared to $212 million reported in the second quarter of fiscal 2004. Compared to the same quarter in the prior year, revenues increased 24 percent, from $189 million.

Third quarter net income was $22.6 million or $0.20 per diluted share on a GAAP basis. There were no adjustments to GAAP basis accounting in the quarter. Non-GAAP net income in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 was $12.9 million or $0.11 per diluted share, excluding a one-time tax benefit of $19.7 million. GAAP basis net income in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 was $32.6 million or $0.29 per diluted share. Net income was $5.8 million or $0.05 per diluted share, for the third quarter from the previous year, excluding restructuring and other charges totaling $13.3 million. GAAP basis net loss was $3.9 million or $0.03 per diluted share in the third quarter of the prior year.

"Contrary to our normal seasonal slowdown in the third quarter, Autodesk increased revenues 10 percent and operating profitability by 100 percent sequentially," said Carol Bartz, Autodesk chairman and CEO. "Each of our lines of business turned in a strong performance. Today's results clearly demonstrate that our strategies are working, our products are being well received, and most importantly, our customers are satisfied."

During the quarter, Autodesk launched three key enhancements to its subscription program, demonstrating the company's commitment to its customers -- Web support direct from Autodesk, e-learning and multi-year contracts. These features address three of the most common requests from customers. The subscription program will be a key factor in improving the predictability and the profitability of the business model in the future. Subscription revenue was 14 percent of total revenue for the Design Solutions Group. Deferred subscription revenue grew to $66 million.


Spatial Announces Support for 32- and 64-bit AMD Opteron Processor

Spatial Corp., a developer of 3D subsystems (geometric modeling kernels), announced that it has completed the initial port of its 3D ACIS Modeler and 3D Deformable Modeling components for the AMD64 Opteron platform.

Spatial completed and optimized the porting project in less than two weeks, enabling its customers to begin beta testing the Windows port during the R13 release cycle. In addition to the Windows port, Spatial expects to have an AMD64 Red Hat Linux port available in Q1 2004 for beta testing.

"We are extremely excited by the results of the initial port, especially the ease with which the port was completed," said Keith Mountain, vice president of marketing for Spatial. "We worked closely with AMD to ensure we completed an optimized port and the results we are seeing attest to the success of that effort. AMD's determination to deliver a world-class solution is evident not only in the power of their 32- and 64-bit AMD Opteron processor, but also their commitment to assisting companies interested in transitioning to the AMD64 platform."

Commercial release of the Windows port will coincide with the final release of the 64-bit Windows platform by Microsoft. Commercial release of the 64-bit Red Hat Linux port will coincide with the final release of Spatial's R13 product suite.

In light of recent negative developments, these announcements bode well for Spatial and prove that the company is determined to stay in the forefront of software subsystem development.


3D Systems Realigns Management and Operations

3D Systems Corp. has realigned its global management team and operations -- regarded as a much-needed move by many, given the recent performance of the company on many levels.

Kevin McAlea, currently Senior VP, Worldwide Revenue Generation will become Senior VP, Global Marketing and will be responsible for global product management, marketing, communications and new market development. The company is in the process of recruiting a Global Vice President of Sales.

Ray Saunders, currently Senior VP of Operations and Development will become Senior VP, Global Services and has been given the assignment of enhancing and expanding the customer services segment of the business.

Stephen Goddard assumes the newly created position of VP of Global Operations. He joins the company from Sealed Air Corp. where he served as a senior operations and performance improvement leader.

Chuck Hull, co-founder and CTO, will coordinate and lead a research team focused on exploring new technologies and applications and will in conjunction with CEO, Abe Reichental, manage the development organization.

"We believe the realignment of our management team and operations globally, enhances our ability to meet and exceed our customer needs, optimize our operations, execute our business strategy and improve returns," said Abe Reichental, President and CEO, 3D Systems. "Tactically, we are organizing and empowering our team to focus on key markets and opportunities, expand the range of our customer services portfolio, accelerate the release of new products to market, and improve our operations and supply chain management. We are fortunate to have a talented and capable group of executives to drive these initiatives."

This is a major and necessary shake-up of one of the premier companies involved with rapid prototyping, and a series of moves that will hopefully benefit the company and its customers.

Jeffrey Rowe is the editor and publisher of MCADCafi and MCAD Weekly Review. He can be reached at Email Contact or 408.850.9230.


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