Through the standardization of design data and libraries we have created the foundation for the systematic reuse of existing designs.
Paul BurgerGroup Leader PCB Design Research + Development, Endress+Hauser
Modular Design
Bringing the building block principle to bear in the world of electronic and electrical engineering
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Manage interdepencies between modules, versions and designs
Modular product architectures are considered a breakthrough approach for controlling product and manufacturing complexity in today’s world of fast-paced technological innovation.
To use modular product architectures successfully, the engineering information infrastructure needs to be solid. This is because interdependencies between modules must be maintained to support efficient engineering change and configuration management processes.
We can help you with
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Reliable data and configurations
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Powerful design data and configuration management functionality directly integrated into the familiar user interface of our authoring tool environements CR-8000 and E3.series provide a solid basis for the adoption of modular product architectures.
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Native design data management
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With our DS-2 technology, we provide powerful libraries and material data management capabilities for native design management, and propagation of changes to variants and related designs.
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PDM, PLM and ERP integration
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Built on industry standard object-oriented architecture, our solutions are fully equipped to integrate into existing PDM/PLM and ERP environments, providing a true electromechanical data model with full visibility of electrical and electronic designs down to component level.
Our satisfied customers
The days of non-intelligent drawing packages are over. We need better tools that can offer design reuse, bring about standardization, and can still deliver flexibility - like E3.series. We also need partners like Zuken who are willing to listen, learn, communicate and be proactive in regards to meeting our needs.
Norman MacDonaldUK Engineering Director, Honeywell
- Case Study
October 19, 2018
Emergency One
Specialist fire rescue and emergency vehicle manufacturer, Emergency One UK Ltd, uses E3.series software for its electrical harness design. This has enabled the company to produce wire harnesses to standardize the design and manufacturing process reaping, cost savings and reliability benefits, while also delivering flexibility through modular based customization.
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controls wire harness design complexity and slashes delivery lead times by using a digital design process.
- Case Study
October 19, 2018
Alstom is adopting new modular methodology for electrical design
After acquiring various companies around the globe in the 1990s, Alstom needed to integrate new elements into its international corporate structure in order to improve productivity and planning. This also meant creating a standardized software landscape that would cover all divisions of the group.
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Alstom improves productivity and planning by adopting a modular methodology for electrical design.
- Case Study
October 19, 2018
Müller Martini
Müller Martini supplies highly flexible, customized print processing machines to the graphics industry. The Swiss-based company recently took the replacement of an end-of-life CAD installation as an opportunity to re-engineer established procedures in electrical engineering and handover to production.
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enhances variant and option handling and reduces manufacturing costs by moving to an object-oriented ECAD environment.
- Case Study
October 19, 2018
Pantec Automation
When Pantec Automation’s customers faced pressure from low-cost counterfeit machinery, they realised the best way to fight back was to help customers reduce their own costs. Through wholesale efficiency improvements achieved by expanding its use of Zuken’s E3.series and integrating it into its ERP/PPS, Pantec Automation enabled its customers to better serve end-users.
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cuts machine manufacturing turnaround time by around 50%, reduces product costs, and helps protect IP for its customers.
- Case Study
October 19, 2018
Endress+Hauser
With PCB data and process management solutions from Zuken, Endress + Hauser has standardized development and manufacturing processes across five geographically-distributed operations, enabling company-wide parts standardization, design-reuse and increased engineering productivity.
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Endress+Hauser standardizes PCB engineering and production processes for industrial measurement products across distributed locations
Recent Modular Design Blog Posts
- Blog
June 17, 2021
Managing Complexity in PCB and Wiring Design with a Modular Product Approach
A modular product approach is an established way of improving the calculating and realizing the value of investment goods. Yet modular product initiatives often fail to live up to expectations because of poor coordination between engineering disciplines. To deliver on the promise of a modular product architecture strategy, companies need to create a number of prerequisites in organization, process, and infrastructure.
Read now
- Blog
February 20, 2020
Modular Design with Traceability
A modular electrical design comes with its own set of unique challenges. However, the basic principles of the solution are the same. With this in mind, let’s think modular when it comes to a modular design.
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- Blog
March 19, 2019
Tech Tip on the Circuit Block Manager
Modular circuit design allows engineers to create a set of electronics building blocks that can be reused and shared between products. The Circuit Block Manager facilitates reuse management and change control of a library of circuit blocks in a convenient and organized manner. This brief video shows how simple it is to use a hierarchical schematic containing circuit blocks as the basis for a modular circuit block library within DS-CR.
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- Blog
December 06, 2018
Modular Board Design: A Platform Approach to Increase Product Variants and Decrease Components
It sounds like a paradox: electronics manufacturers can increase variation within a product line while using fewer electronic components. Reuse keeps product costs low, increases product flexibility and customization. Far from paradoxical, the approach is quite doable today through a process called modular board design coupled with predictive analysis numbers returned by the Internet of Things.
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Modular board design coupled with predictive analysis results gathered from the Internet of Things keeps product costs low and increases flexibili...
Related resources
Check our latest webinars, white papers and more
- White Paper
December 11, 2018
The Modular Approach - A guide to multi-disciplinary success
To deliver on the promise of a modular product architecture strategy, companies need to create a number of prerequisites in organization, process and infrastructure.
Read now
- White Paper
October 12, 2018
The Internet of Things and Modular Design
White Paper, CR-8000
How the rise of IoT can lead to changes in the design process
- Press Release
July 24, 2018
E3.series 2018 addresses complexity challenge
Press Release, E3.panel, DS-E3, E3.fluid, E3.formboard, E3.cable
Related products and solutions
- Solutions
October 19, 2018
Configuration management
Build new products from modular blocks
- Solutions
October 19, 2018
Change management
Evaluate, approve and implement change requests
- Products
October 01, 2018
DS-CR
DS-CR supports the specific demands of PCB design data management. It combines multi-site library, design data, and configuration management capabilities into a unified engineering environment.
Read now
PCB Design Data Management
- Products
November 16, 2018
DS-E3
Electrical and Fluid Data Management
Tell us more about your challenge
While we are trying to provide a comprehensive overview of our solutions portfolio, we are aware we cannot capture all process challenges of a modern business.
Drop us a line and describe your challenge.
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