Garbage in. Garbage out. The familiar computer science concept refers to the fact that the resulting output is dependent on the quality of the input.
The same is true for industrial design. Complex product designs are dependent on the components required to build them. An otherwise beautiful design can turn to garbage when composed of parts that are non-compliant or become obsolete.
Windchill PLM software reduces the time to industrialization by digitizing and connecting your enterprise across the globe. Product design is a complex process that requires information from a myriad of sources.
Windchill Extensions from SiliconExpert help ensure the long-term viability of your designs. As a leading development and administrative support suite, SiliconExpert is unifying semiconductor and mechanical parts management from design to end of life.
SiliconExpert’s team of electronics engineers are available to answer system questions as well as maintain a current database of data points to ensure users are confident in the components which make up their designs.
SiliconExpert CONNECT is included into Windchill, giving users access to verified design and component libraries. It highlights potential risks based on lifecycle classification and compliance information, as well as giving crosses, stock levels, and pricing data. This implies that your engineers have access to trustworthy data when they need it to inform their decisions and streamline design processes.
Engineers can use SiliconExpert CONNECT to search for and validate orderable component numbers using the SiliconExpert validation algorithm, which produces a list of standard parts. You can also examine your bill of materials to find components that may jeopardize the integrity of your design. With the press of a button, unique algorithms provide a full risk review for each part and allow you to cross-reference substitute parts. All known form-fit-function cross-references and supplier alternatives for a given manufacturer part number are then available.
SiliconExpert electronic engineers swear by this information since their ties with suppliers improve the accuracy of a part’s predicted availability and regulatory compliance. When this information is updated, SiliconExpert Synch allows designs to be updated on a regular basis.
Modern technologies and machine learning contribute to the enhancement of information. Data points from SiliconExpert provide insights about material prices and availability, which can be used to adjust part forecasts.
Integration with Windchill enables visibility at every point of the life cycle, assuring the proper parts for your design and saving time and money by avoiding errors. This prevents “garbage” from entering your designs and guarantees immaculate results.
Try the SiliconExpert CONNECT Starter in the Windchill Extension Center, which will display live data in the Windchill interface, allowing your engineers to monitor a part or a bill of materials for compliance, obsolescence, end of life, and other issues. The Starter extension is restricted to 200 pieces and does not require a SiliconExpert license. It’s an excellent first look at the benefits SiliconExpert delivers to Windchill.