Features of WRENCH Enterprise for New Product Development

Features

	A completely web-enabled application built on Microsoft .NET platform, which enables cross-functional internal teams, vendors, customers and other stakeholders to share data and information online.
	Enhanced project management module that can monitor multiple products - separate orders from the same customer, or products from the same family but from different customers. Enables easy scheduling and monitoring.
	A very flexible project data module, which handles customer enquiries, internal orders and customer, orders, as well as all the input data.
	A comprehensive workspace module that displays all pending tasks (per user) related to drawings, documents, action items, bill of material, process data, proposals etc.
	Workflow routing of parts, bill of material, process structure (other than drawings and documents). Higher levels of reusability and prevention of repeated mistakes/problems by routing them for review before the final acceptance.
	A highly configurable custom property definition module, with properties, which can be referred across modules.
	A unique built-in flexibility that enables organization without a fully matured work process to work easily with documents and gradually transition to a database without any loss of productivity.
	Facility for mapping of document fields to database so that the attributes are updated bi-directionally during specific triggers.
	A process structure module which enables to define manufacturing process, resources (Man\machine), manufacturing sequence etc., in a hierarchical structure which enables easy visualization by down stream departments.
	Out-of-the-box CAD integration with most 3D CAD packages namely Pro-E wildfire, Unigraphics, Autodesk Inventor and Solid works. Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ will capture Bill of materials automatically from these CAD files and also manage files in the vault.
	Out-of-the-box integration with Oracle-Apps and enhanced integration with latest SAP through SOAP technology.
	Enables online web based collaboration using the streaming technology, which enables to handle large 3D CAD assemblies from multiple CAD soft wares.
	A comprehensive change management module, which handles parts, drawings, documents, Bill of materials and manufacturing process data all in an integrated manner.
	A new corrective action and preventive action module, which captures the problems and solutions along the transaction and proactively prompts the user.

FAQ

1. We design and manufacture auto component and we follow a process which has evolved over the year and is specific to our product. We would like to know can we follow our existing process or do we need to change our process to use Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™?

Ans: You need not change any of the process to implement Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™. However as the product development has been defined taking into consideration that all process and outputs are manual some companies has reviewed their product development process for electronic data handling.

2. By implementing Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ will it increase the total product development process time?

Ans: Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ can be configured in such a way that it can enforce certain process which are a must and allow bypass of certain process which is permissible. Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ identifies the processes that have been bypassed so that they can be completed later.

3. Our customer provides us the final product drawing and what we do is to define the product manufacturing process which is defined in the Process flow diagram, the process FMEA, control plan and other quality related document. However we design the tool, jigs and fixtures and machines required for manufacturing. Is Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ capable of handling these data?

Ans: Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ enables to handle the product development data such as PFC, PFMEA and control plan and other quality document in an integrated manner. Also the tools, machines, gauges and other product design data can be captured in WRENCH in a database so that any change in the any of the data will update the related data automatically.

4. We use 2D/3D CAD softwares, Microsoft products etc., Can Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ handle these data and can the data created using these software be viewed and printed and commented in Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ without using the respective software for creating this data?

Ans: Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ can handle data from all the latest version of 2D/3D CAD packages available in the market such as Pro-E, Ideas, Unigraphics, Catia, Solid works, Autodesk Inventor, Solid edge etc. and the documentation software such as MS Word, MS Excel etc., Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ viewer support about 300 commonly used files formats. The Viewer can be used for viewing, printing and redlining \ commenting on these file formats without using the software used to create it.

5. How is Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ different from ERP software?

Ans: ERP software manage the non-engineering process of an organization such as Purchase, Sales, Production planning, finance, inventory management etc., Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ manages the Engineering process and data related to product development from customer requirement upto release to Production.

6. We are having an ERP system (SAP/ Oracle/ in-house developed ERP), can Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ be integrated with it so that there is no duplication of work?

Ans: Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ has out of the box integration with standard ERP software such as SAP, Oracle and Jdedwards. We have many sites where this integration has been in use for the past 3-4 years such as Kenametal WIDIA, Bajaj Auto, Sanmar group, Tata power, L&T-Chennai to mention a few. Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ has also been integrated with the custom build ERP software that is used by some of the client.

7. We have a lot of old drawing, Bill of materials, documents etc, which have been produced by our designers over the past couple of decades which are partially available in softcopy and remaining in hardcopy. How do we bring this data into the Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ system?

Ans: The data which is available in softcopy can be bulk imported into Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ if the file details are provided in an Excel file or a custom build bulk import program can be designed to upload the file with minimum data entry. For manual drawing only the document information can be imported and the file location can be specified so that Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ can be the centralized library of all the documents. The hardcopy files can be scanned as and when required. Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ provide the facility of a scan manager which manages the scanning activity.

8. What time frame does it take for a typical Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ implementation? What extend of support is required after the implementation and how will this be provided?

Ans: The average time taken for the complete implementation is about 15 - 22 weeks depending on the organization. The implementation schedule is also dependent on how fast the customer signs of the optimized process that needs to be implemented. After Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ has been configured and implemented it would require a minimum 1-2 months time to upload the data and also to do a pilot live project on the system. We provide an Implementation Engineer on site during this period at a consolidated cost who will provide the hand holding during the pilot project.

9. How much support is required for running the application after it has been implemented and pilot run is completed? Is there any other recurring expenditure?

Ans: After the data is import and the pilot run is completed the product can be supported by the companies internal IT team as they would be thoroughly trained on the product administration and maintenance. If companies don't have an IT department the same can be taken up by us at an additional cost. For a period of 6 months from the date of implementation free support will be provided as part of warranty after which the company needs to signup for AMC which is 15% of the product cost. There is No other recurring cost.

10. What data is exchanged with ERP from Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ and how does it ensure that there is no inconstancy in data during exchange?

Ans: Any data from Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ can be exchanged with ERP. In our existing implementation the general touch points of integration are the following.

a)	Order details are downloaded from the ERP into Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™.
b)	Part master creation in ERP when part is released from design.
c)	Bill of material uploading to ERP when released after approval from WRENCH.
d)	Engineering changes done by engineering is uploaded into ERP after its approval.
e)	While a Engineering change request is reviewed the information on the list of pending orders, material in stock and material in work progress which is affected by the engineering change is read from the ERP and provided as information.

Before going live the database of ERP and Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ is synchronized after which no partnumber is permitted to be created in the ERP. All transaction are done using standard database exchange protocols. When a data is updated in the ERP a return value is given by the ERP or WRENCH which is read by WRENCH/ERP only then the status is updated. If the transaction fails the updation is rolled back. This ensure possibility of any inconsistency of data.

11. What is the minimum infrastructure required for implementing Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™? Does it require any specific hardware or software?

Ans: Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ works on the standard Intel server hardware with 2Gb RAM on Microsoft windows 2000 / 2003 operating system and on the client it works on Windows 2000 or XP. To start with the hard disk size can be about 72Gb which can be upgraded based on requirement at a later date as required. No special hardware or software is required.

12. Does Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ put any restriction on the number of projects, tasks, drawings, size of file or any other restriction?

Ans: Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ does not put any such restriction in the usage of the software.

13. How is the software licensing policy of Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™. Does Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ put any restriction on the number of users that use the software any point in time?

Ans: Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ uses concurrent licensing module. The company can create any no of users but it allows login of only that many no of users as the no of concurrent license purchased by the company simultaneously.

14. The CAD software companies keep updating the versions of their software very often. How does Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ ensure that it will support these latest version?

Ans: Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ uses a bought out Viewer software by name AutoVue from Cimmetry Inc, Canada. Cimmetry is only in the business of providing viewing solutions and thus they ensure that the viewer supports the latest version of the CAD package. When you signup for AMC of Wrench-Enterprise (For NPD)™ we signup the AMC with cimmetry which ensures that support is provided.

Comparison Chart

#	Comparison Factor	ERP	PLM solutions	WRENCH
1	Cost
1.1	Approximate Pricing (in Rupees)	> 1 Crore	30 Lakhs to 1 Crore	15-25Lakhs
2	Functionality & Features
2.1	Customer Enquiry data management
2.2	Enquiry Input data management
2.3	Handling technical feasibility and cost estimation
2.4	Sale order and customer requirement handling
2.5	Project scheduling and resource planning
2.6	Project monitoring \ notification based on real time data
2.7	Product data and Bill of material management
2.8	2D/3D CAD data and engineering document management
2.9	Design data collaboration
2.10	APQP process definition and workflows
2.11	APQP document management
2.12	APQP data and document integration with product
2.13	Manufacturing process definition and management
2.14	Integration of product, process and APQP documents
2.15	Proto release management
2.16	Capturing customer voice
2.17	Pre-launch and production release
2.18	Change management after production release
2.19	Integrated Engineering change management with product data
2.20	Handling of Purchase/ manufacturing activities and data
2.21	Preventive action and corrective action capture
2.22	Finance and HR
3	Support & Maintenance	High	Med-High	Low

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