An insightful dialogue is conducted with Marin Travac, a mechanical engineer hailing from Rijeka, Croatia. A degree in mechanical engineering is obtained from the Faculty of Rijeka, marking the start of a professional journey. Employment at AITAC, a Rijeka-based company, is embarked upon in 2006, at which time the company is a burgeoning enterprise.
Marin’s Progressive Journey with CATIA at AITAC
It is observed that the journey of a mechanical engineer at AITAC evolves significantly with the use of Dassault Systèmes’ CATIA software. Initially engaged as an engineer in 2006, the progression moves from utilizing the now-obsolete CATIA V4 to the more advanced CATIA V5, and ultimately to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
This professional development is marked by a transition from hands-on engineering tasks to a more consultative role, wherein expertise is provided to assist other companies in deploying the 3DEXPERIENCE platform effectively. The current status within the company is of a managerial nature, overseeing the consultancy and support department, indicating a considerable advancement from the starting point.
A Glimpse into AITAC’s Consulting Challenges
At AITAC, time management is identified as a significant challenge for both designers and consultants. With deadlines constantly looming, the pressure to deliver quality work within a constrained timeframe is a recurring battle. This is further complicated by the necessity to meet class regulations and customer expectations, which are particularly crucial in the realm of consultancy.
The complexity of aligning with these standards while also addressing the bespoke needs of clients is an inherent part of the job at AITAC. Moreover, the task of understanding and clarifying clients’ often unclear requirements is emphasized as a critical component of their services. This involves a collaborative effort with clients, striving to elucidate and sometimes even help them recognize their own needs, especially when they aspire to incorporate 3DEXPERIENCE into their operations.
The Integral Advantages of CATIA for Collaborative Engineering
In the realm of engineering design and product lifecycle management, the integration of various disciplines within a singular platform is paramount. CATIA, as a software, excels in providing a seamless environment for collaboration across diverse engineering specialties. Whether one is engaged in electrical systems, piping, structural analysis, or insulation, the consolidation of these disciplines into one coherent model is facilitated without the usual complications associated with disparate systems.
This integration inherently enhances the efficiency of data validation processes, as all pertinent data resides on the same platform, allowing for comprehensive cross-validation from requirements through to functional, logical, and physical aspects. The statistics underscore the substantial benefits realized in collaboration and data validation, with the entire product lifecycle—from pre-production, through production, to post-production and maintenance—being managed within the CATIA ecosystem.
I will say that the biggest benefit of CATIA is collaboration across all disciplines, no matter if you work with electrical system or pipes or structure or insulation, are in the same software.
Marin Travac, Mechanical Engineer, AITAC
Ensuring Seamless Data Management Across Product Lifecycles
In the realm of product development, the significance of complete data management cannot be overstated. It is vital for the entire product lifecycle, encompassing pre-production, production, post-production, and maintenance phases, to be meticulously managed and integrated. The utilization of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and CATIA is instrumental in achieving this integration, offering a single platform that supports the full product lifecycle.
This comprehensive approach ensures that every aspect of production and subsequent stages are connected, facilitating streamlined workflows and improved collaboration. The benefits of such a platform are numerous, including enhanced data validation as all data from requirements to functional, logical, and physical designs can be validated against each other within the same environment.
The ability to validate all stages of production within a unified system is not only efficient but also ensures that compliance with regulatory standards is maintained throughout the lifecycle. Furthermore, the platform’s capabilities in managing data provide significant advantages in terms of collaboration and readiness, allowing various disciplines such as electrical systems, piping, structure, or insulation to work concurrently without the hassle of combining different models.
Conclusion
In the conclusion of the interview, the advancements and challenges in utilizing CATIA and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform at AITAC are summarized. The growth of the company from a small enterprise to a significant player with over 100 employees is reflected. Time management and the interpretation of client needs are identified as the primary challenges faced by the engineers and consultants.
The pleasure derived from the real-time visualization of models and the comprehensive process management capability of CATIA is acknowledged. The integral role of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform in ensuring complete data management across the product lifecycle is underscored.
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