CAD-PLM integration means that when an engineer works in NX, Creo, or CATIA, their design files are saved directly into the PLM system — not onto a local hard drive or file server — and are automatically associated with the corresponding part record, BOM structure, and lifecycle state in PLM. Every save action, revision increment, and status change in CAD is recorded in PLM with full traceability. When an engineer opens a file, PLM controls which revision they access based on the active revision rule. When an assembly is released, PLM propagates the release status to all child components. The result is that all product data exists in one governed location, with complete version control, access control, and audit trail — without requiring engineers to perform separate data management steps outside their CAD tool.
Multi-CAD coexistence refers to a governed architecture that manages product data from two or more different CAD platforms within a single PLM environment and BOM structure. Organizations need multi-CAD coexistence when they operate multiple CAD tools simultaneously — most commonly as a result of mergers and acquisitions, supply chain requirements (receiving CAD data from customers or suppliers in different formats), or deliberate tool diversity across engineering disciplines (mechanical in NX, electrical in EPLAN, piping in AutoCAD Plant). Without a coexistence architecture, multi-CAD organizations face incompatible data formats, duplicate part records, and disconnected BOMs. EMUG designs multi-CAD coexistence architectures using PLM as the integration hub, with neutral format exchange (JT, STEP, 3DPDF) for visualization and BOM consolidation — governing all CAD data in one place regardless of the source tool.
EMUG’s EMUG SYNC Framework includes a dedicated NORMALIZE phase for CAD data quality assessment and preparation before migration begins. This involves scanning the entire file archive to catalogue all files by type, size, assembly relationships, and metadata completeness; identifying and resolving duplicate files, broken assembly references, and inconsistent naming conventions; defining the target data model in PLM (part numbers, revision schemes, classification structure); and mapping source file metadata to target PLM attributes. Migration is then executed in iterative dry runs — migrating a subset of data, validating results against acceptance criteria, correcting issues, and repeating — before the final production cutover. This methodology has been applied to CAD archives ranging from 50,000 to over 2 million files.
Yes. EMUG connects CAD-originated product structures to SAP through a three-system integration chain: CAD → PLM → SAP. For NX, the integration path runs NX → Teamcenter (via TCIN) → SAP using the Teamcenter-SAP integration framework. For Creo, it runs Creo → Windchill (via WorkGroup Manager) → SAP using the SAP PLM Integration Framework. For CATIA, it runs CATIA → 3DEXPERIENCE (ENOVIA) → SAP using SAP BTP Integration Suite. In all cases, the PLM system acts as the integration hub — governing engineering data quality before it propagates to SAP — preventing unvalidated CAD data from corrupting SAP material master and BOM records.
A focused single-CAD, single-PLM integration program for a single site — for example, configuring NX-Teamcenter integration for a 50-user engineering team — typically takes 2 to 4 months including CAD environment setup, integration configuration, data migration, and user training. A multi-CAD coexistence architecture program for a mid-size manufacturer operating NX and CATIA simultaneously typically takes 4 to 8 months. A full CAD integration program including SAP BOM synchronization, simulation tool integration, and global multi-site CAD vault rollout runs 9 to 15 months in phased delivery. EMUG’s EMUG SYNC Framework pre-built integration configurations reduce CAD integration build effort by approximately 25–30% compared to custom-built approaches.
A standard parts library is a governed catalogue of reusable engineering components — fasteners, bearings, seals, connectors, structural profiles, and other common parts — stored in PLM and accessible directly from within the CAD tool. When an engineer needs a bolt, instead of creating a new part from scratch (generating a new part number, 3D model, and drawing), they select the correct standard part from the library. The PLM system ensures the selected part has approved geometry, correct attributes, and an existing BOM linkage. This eliminates the most common source of part number proliferation in manufacturing enterprises — thousands of unique part numbers for components that are functionally identical. EMUG configures standard parts libraries within managed NX, Creo, and CATIA environments using supplier-provided geometry and classification schemes aligned with DIN, ISO, and ANSI standards as appropriate.
The four most common failure points are: (1) Poor data quality — organizations attempt to migrate and integrate CAD data before assessing and cleansing it, resulting in broken assembly references, duplicate part numbers, and missing metadata in the integrated environment; (2) Insufficient user training — engineers resist using the managed CAD environment because they find it slower than working directly on file servers, leading to shadow file systems outside PLM governance; (3) Misconfigured revision rules — incorrect PLM revision rule configuration causes engineers to access wrong file versions in assembly contexts, generating incorrect BOM structures; and (4) Neglected CAD standards — integration programs focus on the technical connection without defining the naming conventions, template standards, and classification schemes that make the integration useful. EMUG SYNC addresses all four through the Survey, Normalize, and Yield phases.
EMUG delivers CAD integration programs across Europe (Germany, France, UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Poland), the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait), Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand), the Americas (USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), and Africa (South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya). Our team includes NX specialists serving German and Japanese automotive supply chains, CATIA specialists serving French aerospace environments, and Creo specialists for North American and UK industrial clients — giving EMUG genuine in-platform depth across all three major CAD ecosystems in all major manufacturing geographies.
