
In today’s world of fast-paced product innovation and growing regulatory demands, product development teams need a robust and integrated way to manage the entire lifecycle of complex systems. That’s where Codebeamer, a powerful Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) solution by PTC, comes into play. If you’re looking for a way to unify teams, streamline compliance, and deliver high-quality products faster, Codebeamer might be your answer.
Let’s explore what is PTC Codebeamer, how it helps organizations in regulated industries, and why it stands out as a next-generation ALM tool.
What is Codebeamer?
PTC Codebeamer is a modern, cloud-ready ALM platform designed to support complex product and software development processes. It provides end-to-end traceability, collaborative workflows, and built-in support for compliance management.
From requirements capture and risk management to testing and quality assurance, Codebeamer consolidates every step of the development lifecycle into a single platform. It enables teams to collaborate in real-time while maintaining full traceability and regulatory alignment.
Why Codebeamer Was Built: Solving Modern ALM Challenges
The development of Codebeamer was driven by a growing need in the industry for a more cohesive, scalable, and compliance-oriented approach to ALM. As products become increasingly complex and interdisciplinary, and as regulatory scrutiny intensifies across industries, traditional methods and legacy tools can’t keep up. Development teams need solutions that not only track progress but actively facilitate collaboration, traceability, and quality.
Legacy ALM tools and document-based processes often fall short in today’s environment of continuous innovation and regulatory pressure. Teams struggle with:
- Disconnected systems and data silos
- Manual compliance documentation
- Inconsistent version control
- Lack of visibility into project progress
Codebeamer was purpose-built to eliminate these issues. By connecting stakeholders across the development lifecycle, it fosters collaboration and ensures that quality, safety, and compliance are built into every step. Its integrated and modern architecture helps reduce risk, streamline documentation, and improve overall product development agility.
Key Features of Codebeamer
In a complex product development environment, teams need more than just a basic task tracker or document repository. They need a solution that brings structure, consistency, and traceability to every phase of development. Codebeamer delivers this with a rich suite of integrated features tailored to meet the needs of highly regulated industries and cross-functional engineering teams. From capturing requirements to automating compliance tasks, Codebeamer equips teams with the tools they need to work efficiently and deliver with confidence.
Requirements Management
Capture, analyze, and manage requirements in real-time. Codebeamer offers traceable requirement hierarchies and collaborative tools to ensure every stakeholder is aligned.
Risk Management
Integrated risk management tools help teams conduct FMEA, hazard analysis, and implement mitigation plans. Built-in support for ISO 14971 and other standards makes it ideal for regulated industries.
Test Management
Manage both manual and automated testing from a unified dashboard. Track test coverage, link tests to requirements, and generate audit-ready reports.
Compliance Automation
With templates and frameworks for ISO 13485, IEC 62304, ASPICE, and FDA requirements, Codebeamer automates much of the documentation and validation process.
Workflow Automation & Collaboration
Build custom workflows to streamline development, reviews, and approvals. With role-based access, teams can collaborate securely across global locations.
Codebeamer in Regulated Industries
Codebeamer plays a crucial role in helping highly regulated industries stay compliant, efficient, and innovative. These sectors face strict guidelines, frequent audits, and intense pressure to ensure product quality and safety. Codebeamer is designed to simplify compliance while improving traceability and development agility. With its built-in support for global standards and frameworks, it enables companies to operate confidently within even the most complex regulatory landscapes.
Codebeamer shines in industries where compliance, quality, and traceability are non-negotiable:
- Medical Devices: Aligns with FDA, EU MDR, ISO 13485, and IEC 62304.
- Automotive: Meets ASPICE and ISO 26262 standards.
- Aerospace & Defense: Supports DO-178C and related compliance frameworks.
Built-in templates and best practices help organizations pass audits faster and with fewer headaches. In an environment where missteps can be costly, Codebeamer offers peace of mind and a path toward continuous improvement.
PTC Codebeamer vs Legacy ALM Tools
Unlike legacy ALM systems or spreadsheets, Codebeamer provides real-time traceability and centralized data access. It replaces fragmented, error-prone processes with a single digital thread across the development cycle. This results in:
- Faster innovation
- Reduced compliance risk
- Improved team productivity
As product development becomes more complex and global, the need for modern, integrated ALM platforms becomes critical. Codebeamer gives teams the visibility, traceability, and automation they need to stay ahead of the curve.
Codebeamer Integration with PLM and DevOps
PTC Codebeamer integrates seamlessly with Windchill PLM, GitHub, Jenkins, Jira, and other DevOps tools. This helps teams link software development with hardware design and manage the entire product lifecycle under one roof.
The synergy between Codebeamer and PLM tools ensures better change control, faster releases, and fewer miscommunications.
Benefits of Using Codebeamer
When it comes to modern product development, having the right ALM tool can make all the difference. Codebeamer offers a comprehensive platform that improves productivity, enhances compliance, and promotes innovation across cross-functional teams. Its intuitive interface, real-time dashboards, and robust integrations help reduce overhead and eliminate bottlenecks.
For organizations working in high-stakes, highly regulated environments, these benefits can translate into:
- Improved time-to-market
- Simplified compliance and audits
- Ensured quality through real-time test and risk tracking
- Enabled collaboration across departments and time zones
- Connected software, hardware, and regulatory processes in one system
Why Engineers and Quality Teams Are Adopting Codebeamer
Codebeamer provides engineering and QA teams with a flexible, scalable platform tailored to their unique challenges. Whether it’s tracing a bug back to a requirement or preparing for an FDA audit, Codebeamer simplifies the process. Its visual dashboards, process templates, and customizable workflows empower teams to focus on innovation instead of paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions About PTC Codebeamer
When exploring application lifecycle management (ALM) solutions, decision-makers often seek clarity on what sets each platform apart, especially when it comes to managing complex, regulated, and connected product development. The following FAQs address the most common questions engineering leaders, IT managers, and executives ask when evaluating PTC Codebeamer. From its core functionality and compliance capabilities to its role in agile and hybrid development, these answers explain how Codebeamer supports digital transformation across the entire product lifecycle.
What is PTC Codebeamer and how does it work?
PTC Codebeamer is an application lifecycle management (ALM) platform that centralizes the management of requirements, risks, tests, and releases across the entire development lifecycle. It connects teams through digital traceability, ensuring all stakeholders—from engineering to quality—work from a shared, up-to-date source of truth. Codebeamer provides configurable workflows, templates, and integrations to align development with compliance and quality standards. This unified approach helps teams deliver safer, more reliable, and higher-quality products faster.
What is ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) and why do companies need it?
ALM, or Application Lifecycle Management, is the process of managing a product’s software lifecycle, from planning and design to development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Companies need ALM to coordinate cross-functional teams, maintain traceability, and ensure consistent quality across evolving software systems. As products become more software-driven, ALM bridges engineering and IT disciplines, reducing risk and rework. With tools like Codebeamer, organizations can streamline collaboration and ensure that business, development, and compliance goals stay aligned.
How does Codebeamer differ from traditional PLM or project management tools?
Unlike PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems that focus primarily on mechanical and hardware product data, Codebeamer is purpose-built for managing software and systems development. It provides capabilities for requirements management, test management, and risk tracking, which traditional PLM and project tools often lack. While PLM manages “what is built,” ALM (and Codebeamer specifically) manages “how it’s built.” The two systems are complementary. When integrated, they deliver a seamless digital thread between design, engineering, and software delivery.
What are the key features of Codebeamer ALM?
Codebeamer includes end-to-end traceability, configurable workflows, integrated risk and test management, and advanced reporting dashboards. It offers requirements versioning, change control, compliance templates, and collaboration tools to improve transparency and quality throughout development. Built-in integrations connect to tools like Jira, GitHub, and PTC Windchill, creating a unified digital ecosystem. Together, these capabilities help organizations manage complexity while improving speed, visibility, and governance.
How does Codebeamer support requirements management?
Codebeamer provides a structured framework for capturing, organizing, and linking requirements with downstream development and testing activities. It ensures every requirement is traceable to its implementation and validation, helping teams maintain compliance and quality assurance. Version control and baselining features preserve a complete history of changes, reducing confusion and ensuring audit readiness. This makes Codebeamer a powerful solution for managing both simple and highly complex requirements workflows.
Who uses Codebeamer and what industries benefit from it?
Codebeamer is used across industries where product complexity, regulation, and safety are high priorities, such as medical devices, automotive, aerospace, defense, and industrial automation. It supports organizations that need to manage software-driven innovation while meeting strict quality and compliance standards. Engineering, quality assurance, and regulatory teams benefit most from its structured workflows and traceability. Companies building connected, high-tech, or safety-critical products find Codebeamer essential for managing lifecycle visibility.
Can small or mid-sized companies use Codebeamer, or is it just for large enterprises?
While Codebeamer is built to scale for large enterprises, it’s also an excellent fit for small-to-mid-sized organizations that want to mature their development processes. Its modular design and cloud deployment options allow companies to start small and expand as their needs evolve. PTC offers flexible licensing and implementation paths tailored to business size and industry. Even smaller teams gain enterprise-level control and visibility, without the overhead of a complex setup.
What are the core modules or capabilities of Codebeamer?
Codebeamer includes key modules for requirements management, risk and test management, change and configuration control, and reporting and analytics. Each module integrates seamlessly, ensuring a continuous digital thread from concept to release. Specialized templates and frameworks, such as ISO 26262 (automotive), IEC 62304 (medical), and DO-178C (aerospace), are built-in to streamline compliance. Together, these modules create a unified environment for managing all aspects of complex product development.
How does Codebeamer help manage complex product development and software delivery?
Codebeamer connects multiple disciplines – hardware, software, and systems engineering – into a single collaborative environment. It synchronizes development tasks, tests, and requirements to ensure teams stay aligned even in fast-paced, iterative projects. By automating traceability and approval workflows, it reduces errors and accelerates decision-making. The platform’s scalability and integrations make it ideal for managing highly complex, regulated, or geographically distributed development efforts.
What makes Codebeamer unique compared to other ALM tools?
Codebeamer stands out for its deep compliance support, end-to-end traceability, and configurable process templates designed for regulated industries. It’s one of the few ALM platforms that seamlessly connects with PTC’s ecosystem – including Windchill and ThingWorx – enabling a true digital thread across engineering and software domains. Its no-code workflow engine allows teams to tailor processes without development overhead. In short, Codebeamer offers the flexibility of an agile tool with the rigor of enterprise-grade compliance management.
Does Codebeamer support traceability across development, testing, and release?
Yes, traceability is one of Codebeamer’s strongest features. Every artifact – from requirements and risks to tests and releases -is linked, allowing teams to visualize dependencies and verify full coverage. Its Traceability Browser lets users drill down into upstream and downstream relationships to assess change impacts instantly. This level of visibility ensures nothing is missed and that regulatory documentation is always audit-ready.
How does Codebeamer help with audits and regulatory compliance (e.g., ISO, FDA, automotive)?
Codebeamer simplifies compliance by automating documentation and aligning workflows with key industry standards. It includes templates for ISO 26262 (automotive), IEC 62304 (medical), and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (life sciences), among others. Teams can generate pre-configured audit trails and traceability reports on demand, saving time and reducing risk. Its built-in e-signatures, permissions, and validation workflows make it ideal for highly regulated environments.
How does Codebeamer support agile, DevOps, and hybrid development methodologies?
Codebeamer’s flexible architecture supports agile, waterfall, and hybrid methodologies, allowing teams to customize workflows to their preferred approach. It integrates seamlessly with DevOps tools such as Jenkins, GitLab, and Jira, creating continuous integration and delivery pipelines. Backlogs, sprints, and user stories can be managed alongside compliance and risk processes in one platform. This hybrid adaptability helps organizations modernize without abandoning established practices.
What reporting and analytics capabilities does Codebeamer provide?
Codebeamer offers configurable dashboards, KPIs, and reports to track progress, quality, and compliance metrics across projects. Real-time analytics visualize dependencies, bottlenecks, and change impacts, helping teams make data-driven decisions. Reports can be exported or shared automatically for audits, management reviews, or performance tracking. These insights improve transparency and promote continuous improvement across development teams.
Does Codebeamer support risk management and mitigation workflows?
Yes, Codebeamer includes built-in risk management modules that help identify, assess, and mitigate risks throughout the development lifecycle. Risks can be linked to requirements, tests, and controls, maintaining full traceability for compliance documentation. Configurable risk matrices and failure mode analyses (FMEA) ensure proactive decision-making. This structured approach reduces the chance of costly errors and strengthens product safety and reliability.
Is Codebeamer Right for You?
If your organization develops complex products, especially in regulated industries, PTC Codebeamer is an ALM platform worth considering. It delivers speed, compliance, and collaboration in a single solution, making it easier to innovate with confidence.
Want to see how Codebeamer can transform your development process? Register for our webinar, Codebeamer (ALM): Streamline Complex Product Development on August 20th.
Windchill is a mission-critical enterprise system with multiple components and touch points across an entire enterprise. Because of this complexity, you might recognize the need for Windchill Managed Services. EAC has created a managed services program for your Windchill system: the EAC Alliance Program. The Alliance Program provides PTC Windchill managed services such as Windchill administration and support.
Our team of expert system administrators help improve system performance, optimize server and license configurations, and maintain a stable PLM environment for your organization. Looking to understand what we deliver? Below are some frequently asked questions.
Frequently asked questions around Windchill Administration
When manufacturing and engineering leaders evaluate their PLM strategy, they have a lot of critical questions. Decision-makers need clear answers on what Windchill administration involves, when they should consider outsourcing, and what risks unmanaged environments pose. Below we provide focused answers to frequently asked questions to help you evaluate whether a Windchill managed services program is right for your organization.
What does Windchill administration involve and why is it important?
Windchill administration encompasses the full set of tasks required to keep your PLM system healthy, secure and aligned with organizational processes—such as user and license management, system configuration, performance tuning, and lifecycle/workflow definitions. Effective administration ensures data integrity, minimizes downtime, and keeps product data flowing smoothly across engineering, manufacturing and service operations. For example, administrators will manage user access, define roles/teams, configure workflows, administer object types and versioning, and monitor system logs to identify issues before they escalate.
Without dedicated administration, companies risk slow performance, inconsistent processes, and lost productivity—making this role foundational for any serious Windchill deployment.
When should a company consider outsourcing Windchill administration instead of managing it in-house?
Outsourcing Windchill administration makes sense when internal resources are limited, the system has become complex, or you want access to specialist expertise without hiring full-time staff. Many companies turn to managed services when they lack sufficient Windchill-specific knowledge in-house, or when maintaining uptime, performance, patching and monitoring become too burdensome for their IT/engineering teams. According to recent program data, partnering with a managed services provider can deliver high-availability environments and relieve internal teams to focus on strategic PLM usage rather than just maintenance.
If your Windchill system is integral to product development and you can’t afford extended downtime or degradation in performance, outsourcing can be the smarter and more scalable choice.
What are the typical risks of poorly managed Windchill environments?
When Windchill systems are under-managed, organizations face risks such as unplanned downtime, degraded system performance, data inconsistency, version misalignment, and security vulnerabilities from delayed patching. These issues can slow engineering workflows, hamper collaboration between teams, increase support costs, and even result in compliance or audit failures if product data is uncontrolled. For instance, if workflows or lifecycles aren’t properly configured, teams may inadvertently work on the wrong version of a part or document—leading to errors that propagate downstream. In highly regulated or competitive manufacturing sectors, these problems compromise innovation speed and product quality, making adequate administration essential rather than optional.
What types of administrative tasks are included in a Windchill managed services program (patching, system tuning, replication, license optimization)?
A Windchill managed services program typically includes proactive system tasks such as regular patching and updates, server and application performance tuning, license usage tracking and optimization, data cleanup, replication site management, CAD worker configuration and environment monitoring. For example, administrators will monitor system logs for error patterns, manage replication sites to support multiple locations or disaster recovery, and alert you when license groups or worker scripts need attention. Additionally, managed service offerings may include scheduled health checks, junior to expert support tiers, shared service dashboards and continuous improvement planning so your Windchill environment evolves rather than stagnates. Outsourcing these tasks ensures consistent support for your PLM environment and often delivers performance gains and uptime improvements beyond what internal teams achieve alone.
What can customers expect from our Windchill managed services?
Here’s what customer’s see with our Windchill Managed Services and what you can expect.
Windchill Managed Services Percent of Uptime
95.1% of our EAC Alliance Program customers achieve 100% Windchill uptime. Our customers that do not have 100% Windchill uptime still maintain over 99% availability. This is an overall average of 99.95% or more uptime.
Windchill Managed Services Predictive Maintenance
Our Alliance program executes planned (weekly, monthly, etc) Windchill maintenance. Predictive maintenance is more efficient and the preferred approach to system maintenance. Roughly 1/4 of Alliance customers choose to implement PTC System Monitor (PSM) as a way to bolster EAC’s already rigorous proactive maintenance.
Speed/Performance of Windchill with Managed Services
100% of EAC’s Alliance Program customers see an improvement in the speed and performance of their Windchill system. Out of the box, Windchill leaves a lot of room for performance tuning and server optimization. Our EAC Alliance Program Team are skilled in analyzing and optimizing system resources to suit your individual needs
Windchill Managed Services Security/Patches
100% of our EAC Alliance customers receive (or are notified) of patches. This way you can be assured that your system is running with maximum security at all times.
Next Steps: Optimize Your Windchill System with Confidence
Your Windchill system is the backbone of your product development process. Don’t let preventable performance or maintenance issues slow down your innovation. Whether your team needs help managing system uptime, planning proactive maintenance, or optimizing your PLM environment for scalability, EAC Product Development Solutions is here to help.
Our Windchill Managed Services give you direct access to certified PLM experts who monitor, maintain, and continually optimize your environment, so your engineers can stay focused on product design, not system administration.
If you’re ready to improve your system’s reliability, performance, and ROI, connect with us to help your organization achieve:
- Secure, compliant, and future-ready Windchill environments
- Predictable uptime and proactive system maintenance
- Improved performance, speed, and data integrity
- Optimized license management and reduced total cost of ownership
Product development is becoming more complex, fast-paced, and globally distributed than ever before. As a result, businesses can no longer afford to rely on outdated tools or fragmented systems to manage the product lifecycle. That’s where Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) comes in.
PLM is a strategic solution that helps organizations manage everything from initial concept to retirement. But when a PLM system is missing, poorly maintained, or improperly implemented, the consequences can be costly, chaotic, and even catastrophic. This blog explores the top risks companies face without a robust PLM system and why investing in the right tools, processes, and support is essential.
Here is a list of the common problems you could face if you choose to manage your engineering data management and PLM systems in-house.
The Growing Demand for Centralized Product Data Management
In the absence of PLM, teams often resort to spreadsheets, local files, and email chains to manage critical product data. These disconnected tools may work temporarily, but they quickly become unmanageable as product complexity increases.
Without centralized data management, teams lose time hunting for information, risk using outdated files, and duplicate work. PLM offers a single source of truth that connects engineering, manufacturing, quality, and procurement teams with real-time access to product information.
Consequence #1: Product Delays & Missed Market Opportunities
One of the most immediate consequences of no PLM system is slower product development. Without structured workflows, version control, and digital collaboration tools, approvals take longer and communication breaks down. This delay not only increases development costs but also results in lost revenue from missed market opportunities.
Implementing PLM accelerates time-to-market by streamlining design iterations, automating change approvals, and enabling cross-functional collaboration from day one.
Consequence #2: Quality and Compliance Risks
Companies without PLM often struggle to maintain audit trails, proper documentation, and consistent processes across teams. This is especially risky in regulated industries like medical devices, aerospace, and automotive, where compliance is non-negotiable.
Manual systems leave room for error and increase the chance of delivering products that fail to meet safety or quality standards. PLM ensures that traceability, validation records, and required documents are captured and managed systematically.
Consequence #3: High Costs from Inefficiencies and Errors
Without PLM, inefficiencies build up across the product development lifecycle. Design teams may use incorrect versions, resulting in rework or scrapped parts. Change requests can be lost or ignored, causing costly delays or customer dissatisfaction.
A well-maintained PLM system mitigates these risks by automating data updates, linking CAD models with BOMs, and ensuring that teams are always working with accurate, up-to-date information.
Consequence #4: Poor Collaboration Across Departments and Suppliers
In companies without PLM, departments often operate in silos. Engineering, manufacturing, and procurement teams each rely on their own systems or documents, making it difficult to stay aligned.
This fragmentation leads to poor communication, misunderstandings, and decision-making based on outdated or incomplete data. PLM bridges these gaps by providing a collaborative platform where internal and external stakeholders can access and contribute to a unified product record.
Consequence #5: Lack of Long-Term Scalability
As products become more complex and markets more competitive, scalability is essential. Manual processes and disconnected systems simply don’t scale with growing demands.
Without PLM, organizations struggle to support product line expansion, manage global operations, or respond to evolving regulatory standards. PLM systems are designed to grow with the business, supporting new products, processes, and geographies over time.
Overlooked Risk: Not Hiring PLM Admin Support
Even companies that implement PLM systems may face challenges if they don’t hire dedicated admin support. As outlined in this article, the absence of skilled PLM administrators can lead to poor system performance, low user adoption, and reduced ROI.
PLM admin services ensure your system stays optimized, configurations remain aligned with your processes, and users are properly supported. Regular PLM maintenance prevents system failure and ensures your investment continues to deliver value.
Training the Workforce for Successful PLM Adoption
Technology alone isn’t enough. Even the most powerful PLM solution will fall short if your workforce isn’t trained to use it effectively. Without proper onboarding and continuous learning opportunities, employees will fall back on old, inefficient methods.
Ongoing training and change management initiatives help teams embrace new workflows and get the most out of your PLM implementation. It’s the difference between a tool that collects dust and one that transforms your business.
The Flip Side: What You Gain with a Strong PLM System
While the consequences of no PLM system are serious, the rewards of successful PLM implementation are equally powerful. A strong PLM foundation enables organizations to operate more efficiently, respond faster to change, and innovate with confidence. When done right, PLM implementation delivers measurable business benefits:
- Long-term scalability that supports business growth and transformation
- Faster innovation cycles with streamlined collaboration
- Higher product quality through digital traceability and control
- Reduced costs by eliminating errors and rework
- Improved supplier integration and external collaboration
- Data-driven decisions based on real-time product insights
By integrating PLM into your core operations, you position your organization for future success. You gain not only operational efficiency but also strategic agility that lets you outpace competitors and exceed customer expectations.
Don’t Wait for the Pain Points to Pile Up
Many companies don’t recognize the consequences of no PLM system until they’re already struggling. Delays, quality issues, compliance failures, and high operational costs creep in quietly but compound quickly.
Investing in PLM implementation, ongoing PLM maintenance, user training, and admin support is not just a technology upgrade—it’s a competitive advantage. Don’t wait for these challenges to derail your product development. Let EAC help you build a strong PLM foundation that fuels innovation, efficiency, and growth. Learn more about what we can do for you! Check out our services today.
We are so excited about being featured in a premier manufacturing publication! This article focuses on the multitude of ways that EAC helps companies take advantage of manufacturing and engineering data and turn it into growth for the company. We cover all things Digital Thread – from data management and Additive Manufacturing to Augmented Reality and AI in manufacturing.

The majority of businesses aspire to achieve sustainability but often lack clarity on where to begin. Many perceive adopting sustainable practices as a daunting task, believing it necessitates a complete overhaul of their production processes to make a significant impact. However, let me assure you that this is not the case.
So, where should you start your journey towards creating more sustainable product design and manufacturing processes?
To genuinely embrace sustainability, focus on making design decisions at the outset. Designing for repair, reducing material usage, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recovery, reuse, and recycling is crucial. It requires a holistic approach that considers a product’s environmental impact throughout its lifecycle.
Over 80% of a product’s environmental impact stems from design decisions made early on.
Here are three ways design changes can drive sustainability:
Sustainability in Design for Dematerialization
Dematerialization, or material usage reduction, emerges as a crucial strategy for sustainability, aiming to reduce material consumption and weight without sacrificing strength and durability. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies like Generative Design, engineers can optimize designs to use only the necessary amount of material, tailored to specific loads and constraints of each application.
Creo Simulation Live offers a seamless platform for quickly assessing how different materials or reduced material usage affect design performance, enabling adjustments earlier in the design process.
Moreover, with solutions like Creo AMX, designers leverage additive manufacturing capabilities to build structures in the most efficient direction, generating automated supports, and showcasing the potential of lattice structures.
These innovations not only allow for a material reduction but pave the way for lighter, more sustainable products that maintain the required level of performance. As we continue to prioritize dematerialization in manufacturing, we edge closer to a future where sustainability and efficiency are seamlessly integrated into every aspect of product development.
Sustainability in Design for Waste Reduction
Designing for manufacturability and minimizing material waste, such as through minimal stock allowance, ensures efficient use of resources from the outset. By leveraging die casting for near-net shape production throughout the manufacturing process, material waste is significantly reduced to maximize material utilization and minimize scrap generation.
Additionally, utilizing numerically controlled (NC) strategies optimized for fast machining and lower energy consumption, such as high-speed machining (HSM) roughing and finishing, contributes to waste reduction and energy efficiency.
Moreover, designing for ease of service and assembly extends product lifespan and reduces the demand for new products. While some parts of a product may wear faster than others, creating products for easy disassembly eliminates waste because you do not have to throw away the entire product to extend the lifespan.
Accurate documentation of assembly and disassembly instructions empowers users to maintain and repair products, minimizing waste and promoting a more sustainable approach to product lifecycle management.
Sustainability in Design for Energy Efficiency
Engineers globally actively address questions such as, “Can we reduce noise and unneeded energy consumption in design?” and “Can we make our design more thermally efficient?” to pave the way for eco-friendly innovation.
Their goal is to pinpoint areas where energy is wasted, but don’t have the most efficient tools to accomplish that task. Modal analysis and thermal analysis enable more streamlined and environmentally conscious designs. Additionally, tools like Creo Flow Analysis optimizes flow efficiency to ensure that products operate with maximum efficiency, minimizing energy requirements without sacrificing performance.
Furthermore, selecting materials that demand less energy to manufacture and recycle adds another layer of sustainability to the design process and reduces the overall environmental impact from production to end-of-life disposal. Through these proactive measures, energy-efficient product design becomes a tangible pathway towards a more sustainable future.
Sustainable Design Solutions
Our suite of Creo design tools supports sustainable practices:
- Generative Design and Optimization: Refine and optimize designs for dematerialization and material reduction goals.
- Simulation and Behavioral Modeling: Analyze environmental impacts and optimize designs based on real-life use cases.
- Additive Manufacturing: Support lightweighting through lattice structures, reducing material consumption and energy requirements.
- Disassembly and Remanufacturing: Design for repair, refurbishment, and remanufacture, enhancing product lifecycle and minimizing waste.
Designing for sustainability benefits both the environment and businesses. Companies can significantly reduce their environmental footprint by considering dematerialization, disassembly, and behavioral modeling.
By partnering with EAC for solution identification and utilizing PTC’s comprehensive Creo design tools, companies can pave the way for a sustainable future while improving their bottom line. Let’s talk about how EAC can help you identify solutions to help your company embrace sustainable design practices today!
