Altair Case Studies Dimensions Furniture: Enhancing Design and Production with IoT

	Dimensions Furniture: Enhancing Design and Production with IoT Altair

Dimensions Furniture: Enhancing Design and Production with IoT

Altair

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
Applicable Industries	Equipment & Machinery Telecommunications
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Additive Manufacturing Manufacturing Process Simulation
Challenge	Dimensions Furniture, Inc., a furniture designer and manufacturer, faced a unique challenge. Their primary customers were internet and catalog-based retailers who demanded a large variety of models but in low volumes. This was a stark contrast to big-box retailers who required fewer models but in higher volumes. To meet this demand, Dimensions needed to design a plethora of new models. However, their existing design process, which primarily involved 2D tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, was not efficient enough to churn out the required volume of designs. They needed a better design tool that was not only efficient but also allowed for more free-flowing creativity. Read More
About Customer	Dimensions Furniture, Inc. is a furniture designer and manufacturer that caters primarily to internet and catalog-based retailers. Unlike big-box retailers who demand fewer models but in higher volumes, these retailers require a large variety of models but in low volumes. This unique distribution model posed a challenge for Dimensions Furniture, as it required them to design a large number of models. Prior to using Evolve, the company primarily worked in a 2D environment using tools like Adobe Illustrator for initial designs and Adobe Photoshop to apply materials. However, to meet the demand for a large variety of models, they needed a more efficient and creative design tool. Read More
Solution	Dimensions Furniture decided to incorporate solidThinking Evolve into their design process. This tool was chosen for its focus on industrial design and its built-in rendering capabilities, which appealed to the artistic background of the Dimensions team. The tool was used to design and render furniture products for presentation to buyers and handoff to manufacturing teams. When working on an initial design, customers would provide 'inspiration images' which served as a starting point for the design of a particular product. The Construction Tree history feature of Evolve allowed the team to seamlessly go back and edit their models based on buyer feedback, without having to start the process over. This was key in expediting their timeline. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Applicable Industries

Equipment & Machinery

Telecommunications

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Additive Manufacturing

Manufacturing Process Simulation

Challenge

Dimensions Furniture, Inc., a furniture designer and manufacturer, faced a unique challenge. Their primary customers were internet and catalog-based retailers who demanded a large variety of models but in low volumes. This was a stark contrast to big-box retailers who required fewer models but in higher volumes. To meet this demand, Dimensions needed to design a plethora of new models. However, their existing design process, which primarily involved 2D tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, was not efficient enough to churn out the required volume of designs. They needed a better design tool that was not only efficient but also allowed for more free-flowing creativity.

About Customer

Dimensions Furniture, Inc. is a furniture designer and manufacturer that caters primarily to internet and catalog-based retailers. Unlike big-box retailers who demand fewer models but in higher volumes, these retailers require a large variety of models but in low volumes. This unique distribution model posed a challenge for Dimensions Furniture, as it required them to design a large number of models. Prior to using Evolve, the company primarily worked in a 2D environment using tools like Adobe Illustrator for initial designs and Adobe Photoshop to apply materials. However, to meet the demand for a large variety of models, they needed a more efficient and creative design tool.

Solution

Dimensions Furniture decided to incorporate solidThinking Evolve into their design process. This tool was chosen for its focus on industrial design and its built-in rendering capabilities, which appealed to the artistic background of the Dimensions team. The tool was used to design and render furniture products for presentation to buyers and handoff to manufacturing teams. When working on an initial design, customers would provide 'inspiration images' which served as a starting point for the design of a particular product. The Construction Tree history feature of Evolve allowed the team to seamlessly go back and edit their models based on buyer feedback, without having to start the process over. This was key in expediting their timeline.

Impact #1	The incorporation of solidThinking Evolve into Dimensions Furniture's design process has brought about significant operational improvements. The tool's focus on industrial design and built-in rendering capabilities have allowed for a more organic and creative design process. The ability to seamlessly edit models based on buyer feedback without having to start over has expedited the design timeline. Furthermore, the direct handoff of 3D models created in Evolve to manufacturing teams has streamlined the production process. As a result, the design team at Dimensions Furniture is growing, with two new members recently joining and already trained in solidThinking Evolve.

Impact #1

The incorporation of solidThinking Evolve into Dimensions Furniture's design process has brought about significant operational improvements. The tool's focus on industrial design and built-in rendering capabilities have allowed for a more organic and creative design process. The ability to seamlessly edit models based on buyer feedback without having to start over has expedited the design timeline. Furthermore, the direct handoff of 3D models created in Evolve to manufacturing teams has streamlined the production process. As a result, the design team at Dimensions Furniture is growing, with two new members recently joining and already trained in solidThinking Evolve.

Benefit #1	Over 100 furniture models designed using Evolve.
Benefit #2	Faster workflow from design to production than competition.
Benefit #3	Direct handoff of 3D model created in Evolve to manufacturing teams.

Benefit #1

Over 100 furniture models designed using Evolve.

Benefit #2

Faster workflow from design to production than competition.

Benefit #3

Direct handoff of 3D model created in Evolve to manufacturing teams.

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Overview

Dimensions Furniture: Enhancing Design and Production with IoT

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit