Product Lifecycle Management in Windchill
A Product lifecycle management (PLM) system enables collaboration between different functions by gathering all product-relevant data in one place. For hardware development, the choice is in Windchill. This page intends to be a go-to page for how to find information regarding Windchill.
This page is under construction and Windchill is under development. If you see anything that is wrong and needs fixing or clarification please let us know, add a process change request (PCR)
| General Information | Item |
|---|---|
| About Windchill | Product information about Windchill Windchill help center |
| How do I enter Windchill for PAPCP? | Follow the link Windchill |
| How do I get access to Windchill? | Request for access is made in ISIT your access is requested based on role you wish to have. If you are unsure of what role you need please contact samrat.chatarjee@se.abb.com |
| What product lines are supported in Windchill? | From end of 2023: Freelance, 800xA (including safety) From Q1 end of 2024: S plus |
: The PLM process is valid for both non-safety and safety product development.
Common actions based on roles
The idea behind the PLM is to have all the product data in one place. The PLM contains specified roles and workflows that give tasks to the users. Depending on your role in the project you will have to know different parts of the PLM system.
General for all
- Checking the structure: Product documents will be placed in PLM and divided by system and product families. For more information on what is stored where please see the section What is handled where?
- Change notice: A change notice is used to start a change on any level. Depending on the change we have different workflows and tasks:
- Component release process (7PAA016906).
- Schematic release process (7PAA016905), for Freelance, and schematic publishing process, for 800xA.
- Mechanical release process (7PAA016902).
- Product release process.
- Product discontinuation notice (PDN) / product change notice (PCN) process.
- Communications with suppliers and manufacturers are handled through packages and projects depending on whether there is a need to collaborate or only deliver information.
- Recommended for all users - Basic training.
- Description of workflows - Visio drawings.
Release Owner
- Packaging/project creation process: The packaging process is used when releasing a product to a manufacturer.
- Product release process.
- Search.
Product Owner
- Reviewing and initiating changes.
Hardware engineer
- Training relevant for hardware designers 800xA and Hardware designers Freelance, Melody, S900
- Initiating a change process and updating the documentation in Windchill.
- Uploading the data to Windchill after review?
Mechanical engineer
- Training relevant to mechanics 800xA and Hardware designers Freelance, Melody, S900
- Initiating a change process and updating models and drawings to Windchill.
Component engineer
- Training relevant for component engineers
- Component release process.
- PDN/PCN process.
Configuration manager
- Baselining.
How it all fits together
From a hardware perspective, there are four major places to find and store information.
The process handling of these is handled in the OnePCP DMS that contains processes, guides, references and best practices for hardware development.
What is handled where?
As we have several different systems working together the below table aims to give guidance on what is found and stored where.
In general:
- Planning items are handled in Azure DevOps (ADO).
- Requirements and tests are handled in ADO.
- Product-related items originate from Windchill.
- Documents that are stored in Windchill are handled completely in Windchill (including review and approval). The rest are stored in the document management system.
- Items that are stored in Windchill can be opened and started from different programs depending on their usage (for instance, AutoCAD, Xpedition, Creo).
| Item | Windchill | One PCP DMS | ADO | Jira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design | ||||
| Circuit diagram/schematics | x | |||
| PCB layout | x | |||
| Arrangement drawing | x | |||
| Assembly drawing | x | |||
| Bill of materials (BOM) What about the parts list? | x | |||
| Component specifications (mechanics) | x | |||
| EX mechanical drawing* | x | |||
| Marking placement | x | |||
| Label for package | x | |||
| Label for bag | x | |||
| Packaging | x | |||
| Product approval | x | |||
| Test descriptions - test cases | x | |||
| Test execution | x | |||
| Bugs | x | |||
| Environmental type test description (ETTD) | x | |||
| Environmental type test record (ETTR) | x | |||
| DD Design description | x | |||
| EX application report* | x | |||
| EX component list* | x | |||
| EX type test record* | x | |||
| Production test requirements (PTR) | x | |||
| Planning | ||||
| Epics | x | |||
| Features | x | |||
| User stories (PBI) | x | |||
| Test plans | x | |||
| Supplier collaboration | ||||
| TDiM (Temporary deviation in manufacturing) | x | |||
| Engineering change order (ECO) | x | |||
| PCN/PDN | x | |||
| Level 4 support case (L4) | x |
: * EX specific document.
Review
The review of a PLM document is held at the place where the document is stored:
- Items stored in Windchill are reviewed and approved in Windchill.
- Items created in ADO are reviewed via pull requests in ADO.
- Items stored in OnePCP DMS are reviewed according to the user manual.
Integrations to Windchill
To collect information in one place, Windchill is connected to several other systems.
IHSmarkit
This is an electrical component database. This database contains information on lifecycle, availability, full material declarations (FMD), RoHS status etc. The information that comes from IHSmarkit is for instance used when making a BOM analysis in order to find sourcing, compliance and material issues. IHSmarkit is also integrated so that search for new components can be done directly in Windchill based on the classification of components. Regarding how to use the search functionality please see the section Search.
Assent sustainability manager (ASM)
This is a service provider that assists ABB in collecting information regarding compliance status for different legislations. This is integrated into the PLM in order to enable an easy overview for designers when choosing components and materials. However, this is not integrated at the moment but will be in time.
Search
There are several different ways of conducting a search in Windchill. For searching for components you will need to use the classified search. When searching for any type of object please check the different search options in the help center.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I update a process in Windchill?
You place a ticket for a process change request.
How do I raise a ticket if I find a problem with Windchill?
Raise a ticket in MyIS. This is also directly linked in Windchill under Help -> Report incident.
How do I find a parts list?
Historically we have had parts list as a separate document. However, in Windchill what the manufacturer needs to produce is delivered as a package (this is then effectively the parts list). This is a folder that is reviewed and approved and then sent to the selected manufacturer.
How do I find a product?
Do a search according to the section search.
How do I communicate with a supplier?
Please look at the concepts of packages (one-way communication with supplier/manufacturer) or projects (shared items with a supplier/manufacturer).