SRC started its PLM journey with Aras 20 years ago and has developed many Aras Innovator applications over the years. This presentation reviews several of these, focusing less on the feature sets and more on why Aras Innovator was used, which platform services make it suited, and what lessons were learned along the way.

SRC uses Aras Innovator Work Requests (IWR) to manage feature requests, enhancements, and bug fixes. IWRs are the starting point for all Aras Innovator customizations. SRC has processed many IWRs and has extensively customized Aras Innovator to suit its program-driven business. SRC uses its Commodity Classification form and workflow to ensure compliance with ITAR & EAR International Trade restrictions during the part release process. Workflows leverage Program Management’s program type for routing decisions and making program-driven assignments that vary by activity. PM’s business calendar is used for adjusting activity durations, and there’s a new vacation delegation capability.

On the production side, customer orders, work orders, part serialization, and as-built configuration have been features for 20 years. SRC’s R&D labs use Flow Tag Masters and Flow Tags to control the developmental build process. Flow Tags are specially designed for the trial-and-error nature of development programs. Flow Tag completion records, test data, and instrument usage data are consolidated across flow tags and presented on relationship tabs on the built part. At SRC’s factory, SRCTec builds are routine and repeatable. Here, a formal MES (manufacturing execution system) system is used. A batch control framework runs an MES to Aras Innovator importer – both built with Aras Innovator. Further down the product lifecycle, a Returned Material Request (RMA) and Flow Tag at SRC document repairs, overhauls, and rebuilds for units returned from service and tie these to the affected serialized part.