Electronic Data Systems claimed yesterday that IBM and
Dassault Systemes have not replaced it as the supplier of choice
for motor company Ford's design, development and manufacturing
processes.
Yesterday IBM and
Dassault announced that Ford had chosen them to supply and
integrate Catia, IBM's product lifecycle management (PLM) product,
into the company's design and manufacturing processes
worldwide.
EDS then announced
that Ford has expanded its PLM contract and will use its software
as the basis for integration and collaboration of the Ford's
virtual product creation environment.
Catia is used to
design a vehicle's surface, such as the body panels, doors, and
bonnet, while EDS's software is used in the design of internal
mechanisms such as brake calipers and steering columns, said John
Moore, an analyst at ARC Advisory Group.
EDS's Bill Carrelli,
president of business strategy and marketing for PLM Solutions,
claimed the IBM/Dassault contract was only for a single car
project. "It's a pilot programme," he said. "They're in one car,
while we're in 72."
IBM Global PLM
solutions director of marketing Christine Lemyze disagreed. She
said Ford was committed to using IBM's software to integrate all
its vehicle processes, and that Ford uses IBM's PLM products in its
Land Rover and Volvo divisions and will integrate these products
across the company.
Ford spokesman Paul
Wood said his company would integrate IBM's PLM products into its
entire design processes across the board. But he said it would also
continue to use EDS's PLM products.
He said Catia will be
used to do what it does best - surface design - and EDS's PLM
product will be used for other aspects of car manufacturing.
Yankee Group analyst Andrew Efstathiou said having another
supplier make inroads in the market is not a good thing for
EDS.
"EDS had a lock on
Ford, but now IBM has a contract it can build on, and it opens
doors for them to do so."
Ford picks IBM and Dassault PLM software >>