Dassault Systèmes and IBM have teamed up with Panasonic's
Home Appliances Company and its Kitchen Appliance Business Unit (BU) to support
the development of more convenient and safer home appliances and accelerate the
introduction of induced heating (IH) appliances, such as flat cooktops, into
the Japanese market.
IH appliances are produced and developed by Panasonic's
Kitchen Appliance BU and they are gaining popularity as an alternative to
gas-heated appliances. These appliances generate heat through a process known
as Joule heating or the transfer of heat to the bottom of a cooking pan through
an electromagnetic field. Heating efficiency levels are over 90% since heat is
transmitted directly to the cooking area safely without any air pollution as
this method avoids cooking food using direct fire.
With its industry’s first all-metal heating and light-sensor
technologies, Panasonic’s IH appliance leads the industry in heat induction
technology allowing consumers to quickly measure cooking temperatures so
they can accurately control the amount of heat generated for cooking.
As demand increases for products that perform intelligent
functions, companies face the challenge of managing complex design environments
to interconnect the software, mechanical and electrical components required to
manufacture more sophisticated products. IBM and Dassault Systèmes are helping
Panasonic’s Kitchen Appliance BU use CATIA software, a 3D virtual design
platform, for the digital development of product design plans used in the
manufacturing of more energy-efficient, electrical appliances with features
that will help consumers lead smarter lives.
Panasonic's Kitchen Appliance BU uses PLM software solution
CATIA to help shorten the product development period and improve design quality
as follows:
All design processes, from initial digital designs to
physical mold designs, were done as part of one integral process to shorten the
product development cycle.
Key IH appliance parts, such as resin and plate parts, were
designed in a 3-D format allowing fast and direct collaboration with multiple
factory mold makers. The process of mold drawing and production was shortened
by 40%.
Metal parts, critical to the operation of IH appliances,
were designed and tested quickly, saving up to two days of testing time by
using module of CATIA Sheet Metal Design.
With CATIA Analysis features, product designers performed
repeated analysis of large and complex assembly parts quickly, which allowed
the Kitchen Appliance BU team to focus on delivering a high quality product
early in the design process.
Industry analysts point to demand for future products such
as zoneless induction stoves that can be powered with intelligent sensors that
determine the presence of pots anywhere on the stove and automatically ignite
energy under the cooking pot and nowhere else. Panasonic's Kitchen
Appliance BU will continue using Dassault Systèmes PLM solution for the design
and development of new eco-friendly products that help reduce of carbon
monoxide (CO2) emissions.
"Compared to other software design products, CATIA has
a rich set of design functions needed for products requiring sophisticated
surface and shape designs such as our electric cooking heaters," said Mr.
Yasushi Morimoto, team leader, Kitchen Appliance BU, Home Appliances Company,
Panasonic Corporation. "Seamless integration between CAD, CAE (Computer
Aided Engineering) and CAM (Computer Aided
Manufacturing) drove our decision to choose Dassault Systèmes 3-D platform. Our
goal is to expand into new product development areas by enhancing collaboration
among internal units, realizing global collaborative design, and improving
perfection of design through expanding utilization of CAE," added Mr.
Morimoto.
IBM and
Dassault announce intent to integrate PLM operations
Dassault
Systèmes
