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Research and White Papers

Research and White Papers Regarding Convergence Data Services

Effective Value Engineering Depends on Having the Right Data
By Richard Turner
August 2011 | Convergence Data

The Information needed for supporting decisions regarding cost savings and/or quality improvements is usually not readily available. Further, cost-driving product information is buried in specification documents, drawings, CAD files, etc.. Cost data itself lodged in other enterprise information silos. Meanwhile, the window of opportunity for Value Engineering cost improvements closes quickly. Agility is required to capture the highest value for the lowest cost before the window closes. Without accurate and up-to-date information decisions may be made based on incorrect assumptions. This presentation, made at the DMSMS & Standardization 2011 Conference in Hollywood, FL, presents a process for more effective Value Engineering / Cost Savings Decision Support based on Information that is accurate, complete and up-to-date.

Material Cost Reduction Approach to PLM Value
By Dana Nickerson
June 2011 | Whirlpool Corporation

Value can be derived from Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Systems through improving speed to market, reducing quality costs, improving productivity and material cost reduction. Although, many PLM system implementations are justified by the forecasted value obtained by reducing material costs through component rationalization and reuse, little provision is made in typical PLM systems for people to be able to find and reuse components. Component rationalization and reuse requires classification and attribute data. Using this data, common components are identified, price variances calculated, data shared with suppliers and prices negotiated resulting in lower material costs. A strategy for controlling new part number creation also must be deployed to prevent part proliferation after a component rationalization project. This presentation, made at the PlanetPTC Live 2011 user’s conference executive management forum, discusses why material cost reduction should be addressed early in a value-based PLM deployment and how to execute a material cost reduction strategy.

Standards as Digital Data
By Richard Turner
May 2011 | Convergence Data Services

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has a committee called the Strategic Standardization Forum for Aerospace (SSFA). This group is looking at the issue of modernizing standards data used by the aerospace industry so that it is in some meaningful digital structure. Richard Turner presented to the SSFA during a workshop on this topic on May 3, 2011 in Crystal City, VA. The presentation illustrates how CDS solutions are used by Northrop Grumman, Boeing and others to capture data about industry standard parts and how they are searched, compared, sourced, etc. This is a high level introductory overview intended to show these industry standards creators how their documents are converted to data and used across industry today.

Parts Management Data Sharing
By Rich Rhyne
April 2011 | Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems

This presentation was given at the Parts Standardization & Management Committee Conference chartered by the Defense Standardization Program Office on April 12, 2011. It provides an excellent view of how this Aerospace & Defense electronics manufacturer is leveraging a common item database, built with CDS’ DFR, and CDS’ SmartFind search tools to both encourage the use of Standard Parts and to provide for a well-governed new part request and approval process. The presentation also provides detailed metrics on the savings accrued through the DFR-enabled usage of standard parts.

Similar Prices for Similar Parts
A Case Study at Boeing
By Alton Sanders
October 2010 | Boeing

This presentation provides a case study for how this aerospace conglomerate found significant savings in sourcing components with either duplicate or similar physical characteristics used across multiple divisions.

Save a Boatload of Cash with Classification
By Lewis Lawrence
June 2010 | Weatherford

This entertaining presentation details how Weatherford International, a $9 billion provider of advanced products and services to the oil and gas industry, addressed the problem of part duplication with an item classification solution. Weatherford grew quickly from revenues of $2 billion in 2001, both through internal innovation and, more significantly, through over 250 strategic acquisitions. Convergence Data Services provided the products and services which allowed Weatherford to Consolidate, Categorize and Cleanse the enterprise item data from hundreds of sites into a database of over 850,000 parts. This database is used to feed a highly customized PDM system.

Awash with Ideas
By Malcolm Wheatley
February 2010 | Procurementleaders.com

This article describes how Whirlpool Corporation is driving direct material cost savings of 7 to 10% globally by introducing greater standardization and removing complexity. While not explicitly referenced in this article, Convergence Data Services Design for Retrieval (DFR) solution provides Whirlpool the "central component database" which removed "an obvious barrier" to standardization and remains a key component of the ongoing governance infrastructure.

The Value of Good Product Data
By Richard Turner
May 2008 | Convergence Data Services

This white paper discusses how a companies product data can be converted into a strategic asset utilizing Convergence's tools and methodologies.

The Product Complexity Conundrum
By Chloe Barzey and Robert Forrest
Feb 2008 | Accenture

This white paper discusses (CMS) Component and Material Standardization.  A
successful CMS initiative will allow companies to minimize complexity while
still providing differentiated products to their customer.

Data migration evolves from scripts to software
By Hannah Smalltree, Site Editor
04 Dec 2007 | SearchDataManagement.com

This article discusses the trend from migrating data with custom scripts to using
formal applications to do the job today. Rob Karel of Forrester Research recognizes
the fatal flaw of custom scripts inability to do anything about bad data during migration.

Designing a Data Storage Systems for Environmental Compliance
(November 2007)
Krista Botsford, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of 5-Trees LLC

This white paper focuses on how to store and organize compliance data as
well as what a company should look for in a compliance data tracking system.

Reduce program costs through parts management (February 2007)
Researched and written by the parts standardization and management committee.

This document describes how much money a company can save if they have put in place an effective parts management process. In addition to saving money it also talks about other business benefits including: reliability, performance, schedule and managing obsolescence problems.

Integrated Part Information Management (May 2006)
INFOSYS – Jagmeet Singh and Asish Kumar Tewary

This white paper discusses the importance of part information to help bridge that gaps across engineering, supply chain and manufacturing.

Attribute-Enriched Data is Critical for Supply Chain Collaboration
(November 2003)
Upstream CIO – Virgil Vincent Weatherford International and Richard Turner
Convergence Data Services Inc.

This article discusses the importance of quality data and how it drives your business operations including: strategic sourcing, supplier collaboration and spend analytics.
This article also describes in detail the approach Weatherford has taken in producing quality data.

Supplier Relationship Management Solution
The Boeing Company (2002)

This article discusses the importance of parts management system that promotes both parts re-use for engineers while also helping purchasing manage pricing for similar parts at Boeing.