Pilot: PLM

Main article: Product Lifecycle Management

2024: Astra Linux Compatibility

"Astra Group", developer, and developer and infrastructure software integrator of engineering ON ASCON on August 13, 2024 announced the achievement of compatibility software for product lifecycle management Pilot: PLM c. operating system Astra Linux Experts conducted a series of tests of the software stack and made sure that the components of the joint solution work normally, and their functionality is fully available to users. As a result, the company's product was ASCON officially certified under the Ready for Astra technology partnership program.

Engineering Data and Product Lifecycle Management System Pilot: PLM has a management and coordination role within PLM - ASCON solutions. Its mission is to integrate enterprise business processes, engineering departments, and software solutions into a single product development process of any level of complexity. PILOTMAN: PLM is a platform that includes basic tools and application modules for solving a wide range of engineering preparation tasks from design to manufacture and operation of the finished product.

Lotsman Compatibility: PLM with Astra Linux provides seamless integration and workflow optimization. Users can be confident of a high level of data protection due to compliance with Astra Linux security standards. According to representatives of Astra Group, the correct operation of the company's software ASCON with the flagship solution of Astra Group allows users to manage projects and products more efficiently, reducing the time spent on working processes.

"The compatibility of our flagship and the key IT solution of ASCON is an important step in the direction of digitalization and automation of management processes in various industries. Users receive flexible settings to adapt the system to the specific requirements of their projects, "said Kirill Sinkov, Director of the Department for Work with Technological Partners of Astra Group.

2023: Integration with pSeven Enterprise platform

The companies ASCON DATADVANCE and signed an agreement on a technological partnership in the development of settlement management systems (data SPDM). The joint SPDM solution will be implemented through system integration engineering data management the lifecycle of the PILOT product PLM cloudy low-code : and platforms for pSeven Enterprise automation of engineering calculations throughout the enterprise. Both products are included in. Register of Russian Software ASCON reported this on September 4, 2023.

The initiative to create a domestic SPDM solution is dictated by the growing requirements for the digitalization of industry by business and the state. The number of engineering calculations performed in the digital environment should increase in multiples, and the calculations themselves should become interconnected and multidisciplinary so that their results are accepted on a par with the results of field tests, thereby speeding up the launch of products on the market and reducing the likelihood of late detection of defects at the stage of operation.

Streamlining and storing calculation data, establishing a connection between the results of virtual tests and numerous variants of product designs and configurations, managing engineering analysis processes - these tasks will be undertaken by the Russian SPDM solution developed in the partnership of ASCON and DATADVANCE, which will also meet the requirements of import independence and information security.

In the integration solution, PILOTMAN: PLM will provide structured storage of input data for numerical modeling, design projects, and calculation results, as well as management of interrelated requirements engineering, product development, and virtual testing processes. In turn, pSeven Enterprise will take over the creation of calculation schemes using various solvers and control the execution of multidisciplinary calculations based on them.

2022: Pilot: PLM version 22

On January 19, 2022, ASCON announced the release of version 22 of the PILOT systems: PLM, POLYNOM: MDM, VERTICAL and technological applications, which, together with the KOMPAS-3D v20 design system, make up the ASCON software package for product design and lifecycle management in mechanical engineering (PLM complex).

According to the company, the main possibility of the ASKON 22 PLM complex is to configure dynamic electronic structures for applicability and manage requirements within the framework of the system engineering concept implemented in PILOT: PLM.

Also, the PLM complex has an application "Calculation of welding modes," and updates have been made in POLYNOM: MDM, VERTICAL and technological applications.

The products of the ASKON 22 PLM complex support, PostgreSQL DBMS,, and Postgres Pro Microsoft SQL Server Oracle are optimized for operation in slow distributed networks.

One of the tasks of data management in the development of complex products is to obtain the necessary product data, taking into account various conditions and criteria, for example, on a given date in the past, on a specified serial product number or manufacturing order number. This possibility of the PDM system is decisive for the aircraft industry, engine building, rocket and space engineering.

Dynamic structures in PILOT: PLM allow you to assemble the necessary product structure according to different conditions. At the same time, the structure dynamically selected in PILOT: PLM opens in the KOMPAS-3D for further work with the configured 3D assembly of the product.

Development of the PILOT module: PLM Requirements management takes into account the support of the concept of system engineering, which implies a structured approach to the design of the most complex products and systems.

The module implements updated tools and another data model, which includes maintaining a logical structure of functions and the architecture of the designed system.

Tools such as state management and the use of business processes maintain the relevance and consistency of requirements for the product and its components. Trace matrices allow you to assess the connectivity and coverage area of ​ ​ requirements, and data import/export tools allow you to interact with the PILOT: PLM user with other systems.

Updates in PILOT: PLM Change Management aims to optimize the flexibility of design settings and ease of use. This version solves most of the design tasks of change management without the need to develop additional tools and extensions. The module implements a different principle of changes - first, updated versions are created, changes are worked out, and then the selected versions (for example, some of a number of studies) are included in the change notice.

Development of own application solutions for PILOT: PLM has become easier. To do this, a special tool has been created - an extension module designer based on the low-code approach. Using visual tools and methods makes the development process faster and more accessible than writing code.

2021: Optimized for Slow Distributed Networks

On May 18, 2021, Ascon announced the release of an update to its product lifecycle management solution version 2018.2, which accelerates work in slow geographically distributed networks by 5-26 times. A radical increase in productivity has been achieved in the Polynomial: MDM regulatory reference information management system and the Vertical process design system.

The request for optimization appeared against the backdrop of a pandemic - with an increase in the number of employees working remotely and the transition of many industrial enterprises to a hybrid mode of operation. Customers of "ASCON" faced "slow" Internet in geographically distributed divisions.

"Our approach to development includes the prompt release of updates and their rapid delivery to ongoing projects. Optimization for slow networks was not part of the plans for the version, but we saw the situation, reacted to it and released an improved product in the form of an update. This is the case when customers with valid license payments cannot wait for the release of a new version - the work should continue, "commented Alexander Lichman, director of to marketing sales and sales. "Ascon Business Solutions"

The development of the Polynom: MDM system architecture and methodology for its use, as well as optimization of RAM consumption when loading workspaces and other interface elements helped to solve the problem and reduce the load on the network. The Vertical system implements data caching, which eliminates redundant repeated requests to the Polynomial: MDM directories.

In addition to improving software products, additional elements have been developed infrastructures that provide an effective testing process in slow networks. Virtual stands with slow network emulation have been created for testing "Vertical," "Polynomial: MDM" and "Pilot PLM:."

2020: Pilot: PLM 2018.2

On July 17, 2020, the company ASCON announced the release of updated versions of the PILOT systems:, and, PLM POLYNOMINE: MDM VERTICAL which together design system KOMPAS-3D with the ASKON software package for. The mechanical engineering release 2018.2 takes into account the current tasks of digitalization of industries defensive and industrial and civil sectors: industries end-to-end use of a single electronic product structure, support for various technological platforms,. All integration enterprise IT systems improvements were made as part of the engineering strategy of the ASCON for the creation of a heavy class PLM complex.

As noted in ASCON, PILOT: PLM implemented management of requirements for the product, production processes of its manufacture, operating conditions. Updated PILOT: PLM provides digital support for the design of complex products. The system tools allow you to describe requirements in detail, manage their structure, agree and approve requirements within the framework of business processes, ensure the connection of requirements with the product structure and source documents, as well as manage data on product testing and other inspections. When developing a PILOT: PLM product, it will monitor whether it meets customer requirements and report non-compliance.

Another "digitized" task is to manage the replacement of employees. You can temporarily assign deputies for employees with the transfer of tasks, work projects, business processes, access rights to them. If a PILOT: PLM employee goes on leave or is absent, PLM will automatically select his/her alternate in all business processes. This will eliminate downtime and save system administrators from routine operations, according to ASCON.

The application module "Document marking" has been developed. According to the developer, it allows you to place text, image, barcode, QR code and other information on the presentation of 2D documents. Such marking will ensure the operation of the production according to the approved documentation. The second purpose of the module is to quickly search for electronic originals in the system, on the basis of which a paper copy is made.

According to the developer's statement, to increase the convenience of users, the following improvements have been made in the system:

• Improved work with plans for managing programs and project portfolios: it is possible to track several ongoing projects and their mutual influence on each other in terms of timing and resources.
• Added the ability to flexibly set up positioning rules to cover more options allowed by the ESKD. For example, grouping standard products under a common name.
• Added the ability to more accurately configure notifications about various events: business processes, tasks, data changes, etc. Attention is focused on important events to avoid the effect of "spam."
• The PILOT: Archive module has been completely redesigned to increase the speed of operation of the technical documentation bureau taking into account the experience of the module operation at enterprises.

2018: Applications Web Client and Enterprise Integration Bus

On October 25, 2018, Ascon announced the release of applications for the PILOT product lifecycle management system: PLM - Web Client and Enterprise Integration Bus. Applications are designed to make the system more convenient and efficient.

According to the developer's statement, PILOT: PLM Web client allows users to quickly gain secure access to electronic product descriptions and technical documentation from anywhere in the world and from any device: work PERSONAL COMPUTER,, laptop tablet or. smartphone Using -, Internetbrowser the specialist can view information about the structure, manufacturing/repair/installation technology of the product, as well as technical documentation database in PILOT: PLM. The engineer can save documents to the device (including sets of 3D model files with relative component file paths). In this case, the system interface can be configured individually depending on the user role.

"With the help of the Web Client, both managers of enterprises and departments and employees of production, service and marketing services get online access to information in the system. For example, the application can be used by workers and workshop masters, specialists of field repair teams, or maintenance personnel at the site of operation of the product. Thus, the application allows you to make working with product information more flexible, operational and convenient. Information security issues were also taken into account when creating the solution: information is transmitted through encrypted channels, and access is provided for dedicated accounts with limited powers. "

As noted in ASCON, the PILOT: PLM application The enterprise integration bus is a universal mechanism for exchanging data between PILOT: PLM installations in distributed structures, as well as between PILOT: PLM and related ERP class systems,, etc MES CRM. The application is a flexibly customizable and extensible platform on which specialists can solve unique tasks for each enterprise. Thus, the Integration Bus allows you to perform different stages of end-to-end business process in geographically distributed units using your own instances of PILOT: PLM. The application also provides regulatory reference information management (including synchronization of directories and classifiers included in various) information systems and migration of data from legacy systems.

PILOTMAN Solution: PLM helps you manage engineering data and processes in your enterprise, enables you to work together and quickly find the information you need. As a result, the enterprise can optimize work procedures and pay more attention to the development and creation of products, the developer claims.

2014

PILOTMAN Integration: PLM and Prector APS

ITConsult specialists have developed a software module for integrating the PILOT engineering data management system: PLM (developed by ASCON) and the Pre-actor APS production management system, designed for planning and accounting in production.

The integration module solves the following tasks:

• Maintain and prepare data for production planning;
• Accounting of work in progress and finished products;
• Operational production planning;
• Issuance of tasks for production, entry of the fact of completion;
• Reporting;
• Interaction with external systems;

The availability of input data in the system with detail before the operation, as well as a production schedule with an accuracy of a second, allows you to quickly track the progress of production in any convenient forms, both standard reports and reports on customer forms.

This system can be integrated with the customer's software products in order to obtain data on the nomenclature, commercial orders, the availability of semi-finished products, the availability and replacement of equipment works, the fact of completion of replacement tasks, etc. In addition, this solution can be integrated with the customer's software products in order to provide data on the timing of commercial orders, the consumption of semi-finished products, equipment load, the fact of completing replacement tasks, etc.

The integration module can be used in enterprises of different industries, since it contains the main functions characteristic of any production (production preparation, planning, accounting in production), and also allows you to implement the unique features of each industry and enterprise individually.

Production Planning Module

On September 23, 2014, ASCON announced the completion of the development of the Production Planning module for automating planning processes, accounting for order-related small-scale and repair production.

The software product is a plug-in of the PILOT: PLM system and is intended for:

• automation of planning and dispatching processes of order-based small-scale and repair production using design and technological information maintained in the PILOT: PLM system;
• providing managers and employees with up-to-date information on the status of fulfillment of orders in real time;
• integration with the 1C system to transfer the data required for calculating the wages of workers, the actual labor intensity of the work performed and the cost of execution of the order.

With the help of the module, a solution to problems is available:

• formation of a monthly production plan;
• formation of operational plans for the production of work centers;
• generation of order execution card (task for execution of order works);
• recording the fact of performing operations, closing orders using barcode scanning technology;
• accounting for production scrap, accounting for the manufacture of samples for destructive control and development of the technical process, accounting for the transfer of part of the subcontract order operations;
• transfer of information on closed work orders and development of each worker-manufacturer to the 1C system for calculation of wages and actual cost of the order.

Key Benefits of Production Planning

• monitoring the status of orders in real time both in the context of a specific order and by general key indicators of the production plan;

• Rapid response to constantly changing order priorities and various abnormal production situations

• flexibility, ensuring the ability to take into account the peculiarities of piece pay and the existing traditions of production process management at the enterprise;

• simplicity and clarity of the planning interface and methodology.

The greatest effect from the implementation of the module, according to the developers, is achieved by using the software product in conjunction with the tools of the ASCON software complex (PILOT: WorkFlow, Corporate Directories of MiS and MI, CAD TP VERTICAL, Labor and Material Rationing System, COMPASS 3D), in conditions of joint work and integration with the 1C system.

Testing at Hewlett-Packard Center

On April 16, 2014, ASCON announced the completion of the first stage of large-scale load testing of the Pilot: PLM engineering data and lifecycle management system at HP High Technologies Center. The test results confirmed the stable operation of PILOT: PLM with a large number of simultaneous users working in read mode (up to 2500) using the corresponding hardware configurations.

Test tasks

The key task of testing is to check the effective health of the software complex while connecting a large number of users and prepare the recommended configuration for the hardware platform based on HP ProLiant servers.

Testing progress

During testing, the stability of the work of Pilot: PLM 2014 in the mode of reading data by users was checked. To simulate peak loads during the day, the load generated by robots was overestimated by three times relative to the usual mode of operation of users.

The robots used are automated user scenarios. A total of 18 different scenarios have been worked out, including:

• Moving along the product tree to Pilot: PLM with different number of elements (up to 15 thousand objects in the node)
• Different types of database searches
• reading various attributes and properties of objects, etc.

During testing, the number of users dynamically changed, the response time and download of the database server common to all robots were measured.

Test results

The test results showed that the reaction time of the system grows almost linearly from the number of users. At the same time, the stable operation of Pilot: PLM is guaranteed with a large number of users simultaneously working in read mode - up to 2.5 thousand, using the corresponding hardware configurations.

Response time depending on the number of users

Equipment during testing

During testing, HP equipment was used:

SQL Server DBMSicrosoft

Separate physical server without virtualization ProLiant DL580 G7 HP with the following characteristics:

• processors: Intel Xeon X7560 - 4 pieces (64 processor cores (including hypertreading);

128 GB of RAM;

• internal drives: 146 GB, 15 thousand vol. min SAS SFF - 2 pieces

As a disk array for hosting the database, a volume of 4 TB of Vraid5 level is allocated on the HP storage system (25 300 GB drives, 10 thousand rpm SFF SAS were used).

File Archive Server

A separate physical HP ProLiant server DL360p Gen8 with the following characteristics:

• processors: Intel Xeon E5-2680 v2 - 2 pieces (32 or 40 processor cores (including hypertreading);

64 GB of RAM;

• internal drives: 300 GB, 10 thousand rpm SAS SFF - 2 pieces;

An 8 TB RAID 1 + 0 volume on an HP storage system is allocated as a disk array for hosting a file archive.

Application servers Approximately 100 virtual machines, each with parameters:

• 2 processor cores (including hypertreading);
• 4 GB of RAM;
• 40 GB of disk space.

Allocated 9 physical servers (6 HP ProLiant DL380 Gen8 servers (Intel Xeon E5-2650 processors - 2 pieces) and 3 HP ProLiant DL360 Gen8 servers (Intel Xeon E5-2650 processors - 2 pieces) with the following characteristics:

• 24 processors (including hypertreading);
• 24 to 48 GB of RAM on each of the 9 servers;
• internal drives - 8 pieces of 146 GB, 15 thousand rpm. on each of the 9 servers.

Pilot: PLM 2014

On March 17, 2014, ASCON announced the next version of the Pilot Engineering Data and Lifecycle Management System: PLM 2014.

The new release supports new design techniques based on layout geometry that appeared in KOMPAS-3D V15. The optimization of the teamwork process in product design takes place in a combination of methods for working with CAD and PDM functions. Layout geometry is a single environment for all design participants. Its use makes it possible to quickly design a complex product containing both mechanical units, hydraulics, and metal structures, and many other elements that must be closely interconnected with each other.

Layout geometry

Special measures have been taken by the developers to improve the reliability and performance of PILOT: PLM, as a basic software product of the ASCON Integrated Solution. Thus, the speed when working with the composition tree increased by an average of 3 times, the speed of obtaining information when working with large assemblies KOMPAS-3D up to 4 times. The total speed of work increased by an average of 16%. To one degree or another, the operation of all components of the Complex has been optimized.

A lot of attention in the new version of PILOT: PLM is paid to the development of electronic signature capabilities. The improved EE mechanism (formerly EDS) supports in accordance with Federal Law No. 63 "On Electronic Signature" (dated 6.04.2011) three types of signature: simple, enhanced unqualified and enhanced qualified. In PILOT: PLM 2014, an object, document or file can be signed with a simple electronic signature, the identification of which is implemented by a login-password pair. In this case, you can also specify the role of the user in which he signs the object: "Designed," "Agreed," "Approved," etc.

Improvements to the EP functionality have affected many aspects of the use of an electronic signature, but the key change is that PILOT: PLM 2014 does not include the status of the document in the signing area, so the signature retains its authenticity when the document moves to the next stage of the life cycle. Signature verification is now performed in a separate window, which allows you to navigate through the list of documents in PILOT: PLM. A separate command checks the signature of a group of objects selected in the system. Its results are displayed in a tabular form, convenient for viewing the list of signatories and their roles. The contents of the validation window can be saved to disk as a report in xls, pdf, csv, rtf formats.

One of the wishes of PILOT: PLM users was to quickly view and electronically agree on documentation, because they do not always need a drawing or 3D model in the original CAD system format to view and annotate. Therefore, another important innovation in PILOT: PLM concerns the secondary presentation of documents in PDF. Generating, viewing, and annotating a PDF secondary representation is available for 2D- and COMPASS 3D documents, as well as for VERTICAL processes.

Secondary representation of documents in PDF

The PILOT: PLM Production Preparation Planning and Management System has also been developed. "Milestones" appeared to manage the project by checkpoints, work plans can now be compared with the actual progress, and tasks can be imported from Microsoft Project. Added work reports, information about loading performers and other features.

PILOT Production Planning and Management System: PLM 2014

Also in PILOT: PLM 2014, it became possible to attach notes to an object or PILOT document, as well as to a task or business process. The scope of notes can be either traditional - comments and comments on documents during their development or approval, or rather non-standard - for example, for organizing small internal discussions.

The mechanism of operation of the Favorites functionality has undergone changes. Favorites (now not only PILOT objects and documents, but also tasks and business processes) are displayed in a separate window of the client module, supports drag-and-drop operations and allows you to conveniently organize access to frequently used PILOT: PLM data.

Another novelty is the display of a list of changes in the project tree, which in PILOT: PLM 2014 is implemented using special service objects - virtual folders containing search queries, the results of which are presented in the form of related objects. And the procedure for making changes is seriously simplified and improved in such a way that the user does not need increased access rights to affected objects.

2013: "Pilot: PLM 2013"

With the release of Pilot: PLM 2013 and updates to other products, the company launches end-to-end 3D technology. The data of the 3D model created in Compass-3D V14 CAD, now under the control of Pilot: PLM, become the basis for the integration of systems for different stages of the product life cycle, combining the Compass-3D digital CAD development process, the Vertical manufacturing preparation solution, and the Gulf Stream production process management system. To support the full life cycle, "Ascon" lacks a solution of the CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) class - for programming CNC machines, but the gap is eliminated with partner products that will be certified for compatibility with the new 3D technology "Ascon."

2010: Description of Pilot: PLM

PILOT SYSTEM: PLM is the central component of the ASCON Solution Suite and provides:

• centralized structured storage of technical documentation for the product;
• managing information about the structure, product configuration options, and entry of components into the various products;
• Manage the product development process integration of Complex components - CAD, CAD, corporate reference books

The PILOTMAN: PLM system accumulates all the information necessary for the design and technological preparation of the production of the products of the machine-building enterprise. At the stage of production preparation, the system ensures the accumulation of data on the results of design and technological design and the exchange of information between engineering services.

The approved data and documentation are transferred to the relevant services of the enterprise for logistics, production and operation of manufactured products. With the help of PILOT: PLM, management of changes in production documentation can be organized.

PILOT KEY FEATURES: PLM

• availability of interfaces providing access to PILOT data: PLM from KOMPAS-3D, VERTICAL and other components of the ASCON Solution Package;
• accounting of design, technological and organizational and administrative documentation within a single interface;
• Backing up PILOT: PLM databases and restoring databases from backups
• User interface simulation that can be reconfigured (without programming) for different user groups and document types
• connection to external databases for importing information from other automated systems and data sources, including APMS;
• description of enterprise business processes (with nested sub-processes, support for conditions, cycles, etc.), including graphical representation of business process algorithms;
• Document Routing (WorkFlow). Built-in routing tools are integrated with email systems;
• modification of documentation in accordance with GOST 2.503-90;
• electronic digital signature (EDS) of objects, documents and files through cryptographic functions of the Windows operating system. EDS functionality is supported by KRYPTON® Signature system version 1.0 (developed by ANKAD Firm LLC);
• open interface for connection of certified EDS tools;
• using corporate reference books when entering information about production objects into the database;
• An object and document version engine that allows you to store change history.
• storing documents both inside the database and in the file system;
• Tight integration with single reference databases, use of information on materials and assortments, standard products, etc.
• Remote access to databases via the Internet (TCP/IP) with VPN possibility of synchronization of two or more PILOT databases: PLM (for geographically remote sites);
• support the development of specialized software solutions for various industries;
• wide scope of functional expansion. The system provides a large set of API functions that allow enterprise specialists to create additional program modules themselves that expand the capabilities of PILOT: PLM;
• the possibility of integration with the systems on the MRPERP market/-systems; convenient presentation of data.