IMS Messsysteme GmbH

The source of truth

When selecting a future-proof PLM system, IMS Messsysteme GmbH opted for the integrated software solutions from PTC. Long-standing PTC partner MAIT was brought on board for the implementation. Together, all those involved in the project created a future-proof basis for the continuous optimization of modeling, product data management, and process management. As a result, quite a few things have since changed at IMS in these areas. For the better.

Global market leader from Düsseldorf

IMS Messsysteme GmbH, based in Heiligenhaus near Düsseldorf in western Germany, is a global leader in the field of non-contact measuring systems for the steel, aluminum, and non-ferrous metal industries.

Sector Measuring systems

Region Western Germany

Company size 450 employees

The company is reliant on state-of-the-art digital solutions for the new design and ongoing development of its sophisticated measuring instruments. At some point, this prerequisite was no longer met: The existing CAX and PDM solutions had become dated, and operating the different systems was complicated, error-prone, and plagued by media discontinuity. And: The growing demands of the market and customers meant that lead times were simply too long. The goal: IMS wanted a new, integrated, modern PLM solution as a "single source of truth", in other words a standardized system for managing all product data and business processes throughout the entire product lifecycle. Through greater transparency and efficiency, productivity was to be increased and lead times reduced—by at least 25 percent. At the same time, the software infrastructure was to be completely overhauled and made "fit for the future". The initiators identified the specific properties of the IMS products, which consist of both mechanical components and electronics, as posing a particular challenge. For the first time, these two areas were to be connected with one another in the best possible way. IMS also wanted to become more modular in all its new designs to better ensure their alternative use in future projects.

"Lead times and error rates have already reduced significantly. At last, everyone involved has easy access to the same product and process data and the associated business processes across all departments through the same PLM system."

Frank Müller

Mechatronic Engineering at IMS Messsysteme

PTC and MAIT: an ideally-matched duo—for IMS too

The demands on a new, integrated PDM/PLM system could hardly be greater than at IMS. So it was only logical that IMS favored the state-of-the-art and future-proof solutions of one of the world's largest software companies for its fresh start: PTC. And to roll them out? MAIT came out on top against several competitors, completing the tests with flying colors. Hardly surprising: MAIT and PTC share a long-standing partnership. The software and IT experts offer all of the services associated with the PTC software family, from consultancy and implementation to training and support. MAIT had already implemented numerous powerful solutions for manufacturing companies based on PTC technology—and now they were to do the same for IMS.
And so a MAIT team convinced IMS once and for all of PTC—and of its own capabilities. But it wasn't just the PTC technology, the detailed project setup, and MAIT's vast expertise that made the difference: "Ultimately, MAIT is also a very good fit from a people perspective," says Project Manager Tim Jörg, Head of Mechatronic Engineering at IMS.
Next, MAIT and IMS clarified the requirements and use cases and got to work on the changeover. Meaning: MAIT gradually replaced the old product software with an integrated software solution consisting of PTC Creo and PTC Windchill. The award-winning, scalable, interoperable CAD software PTC Creo offers extensive features for 2D and 3D CAD as well as parametric and direct modeling. This enables product designs to be generated, analyzed, visualized, and reused particularly effectively. As an integral software component of the PTC product development system, PTC Windchill provides the perfect platform for managing all product data and business processes throughout the entire product and service lifecycle. Based on PTC Windchill, MAIT and IMS also developed the long-awaited mechatronic bill of materials (BOM)—which for the first time contained all mechanical and electronic components for each complex product. At a later date, MAIT replaced the existing CAM solution at the IMS subsidiary IMS Röntgensysteme with PTC Creo NC and installed the Vericut simulation solution at the company.

A work in progress

The introduction of the new software more than lived up to IMS's expectations and requirements. "Lead times and error rates have already reduced significantly. At last, everyone involved has easy access to the same product and process data and the associated business processes across all departments through the same PLM system," says Frank Müller, who heads up the Mechatronic Engineering division at IMS. That means more transparency and automation, and fewer errors and redundancies throughout the entire product lifecycle. And it also means lower costs and higher productivity.
So, thanks to MAIT and PTC, the IMS team evidently has everything it needs to ensure efficient, pioneering product development and process management. But the work isn’t over yet. There are thousands and thousands of items of historical product data still waiting to be transferred to the new-era PTC system. Yet IMS is undaunted by these prospects. Tim Jörg and Frank Müller were quick to recognize that PLM optimization is not a one-off project, but an ongoing process. That's why they have even set up their own department for process and method development that already has eight employees. And again, MAIT is a permanent fixture in this constellation—and supports precisely this ongoing CAD and PLM process improvement as part of a service contract.

In doing so, the software professionals continue to rely on what IMS so values about them: their expertise, their flexibility, and their people skills, which are simply a perfect fit. That's something MAIT is always happy to be measured by. And not just by IMS Messsysteme GmbH.

How MAIT digitalized here