JLR extends Dassault Systèmes partnership to boost efficiency

JLR uses Dassault Systèmes’ 3DExperience platform globally for the end-to-end development of its modern luxury vehicles, allowing stakeholders throughout the design and production processes to use virtual twins to increase efficiency, improve production management, save time and reduce costs. Previously, JLR had been using a mixture of different industry softwares which were not scalable or supportive of JLR’s Reimagine plan.

Now, Dassault says JLR’s teams across design and development, model-based systems engineering, computer-aided design and manufacturing, and the wider value chain are connected in one collaborative virtual environment.

Laurence Montanari, vice-president of the transportation and mobility industry at Dassault Systèmes said: “JLR is utilising the 3DExperience platform to enhance its virtual twin experience, creating software-defined vehicles that seamlessly integrate both hardware and software development. This systems engineering approach connects and integrates various disciplines, driving the development of its vehicles and ensuring excellence as demanded by luxury brands.

“Our software as a service solution provides JLR teams with increased agility and the ability to access the latest technology on demand. After five years of partnership, we are opening a new era of collaboration beyond engineering and manufacturing through a trusted partnership, where teams from JLR and Dassault Systèmes work closely in short iterations to address JLR and its ecosystem’s challenges.”

The partnership is part of JLR’s integration of digitalisation and planning, part of its Reimagine strategy across its manufacturing, procurement and supply chain operations, which Paulina Chmielarz is overseeing. Chmielarz was promoted to the new role of Industrial Operations (IO) Digital and Innovation Director in August last year and is responsible for driving technology and process transformation across the IO department.

In an interview last year with Automotive Logistics, Barbara Bergmeier, executive director of IO, who Chmielarz reports to, said that digital tools and advances in the supply chain will help share and automate information exchange. “That will allow us to roll out more applications and functions at a cloud level that can apply across operations without breaks in the data collection,” Bergeier said. “Otherwise, you cannot apply full transparency across areas like procurement or how we deliver parts to the line.” 

Chmielarz was previously instrumental in the implementation of a cloud-based ERP, with the rollout of SAP S/4Hana across all JLR’s operations, and has been focused on accelerating technological, connectivity and automation across processes, from cloud systems to business process automation and product lifecycle management.