Case Studies Premier Custom-Built Embraces Digital Transformation While Preserving Old-School Craftsmanship
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Premier Custom-Built Embraces Digital Transformation While Preserving Old-School Craftsmanship

Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management
Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms
Business Operation
Product Research & Development
Quality Assurance
Digital Twin
Predictive Maintenance
Remote Collaboration
Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
Software Design & Engineering Services
System Integration
Pennsylvania furniture manufacturer Premier Custom-Built makes custom cabinetry for luxury homes and yachts, designing every job from scratch. The engineering team was looking to create a paperless manufacturing floor, aiming to migrate the product specs currently in 3-ring binders to 3D CAD models. Premier was also seeking a way to automate repetitive design tasks to speed up time to market.
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Premier Custom-Built is a luxury furniture manufacturer based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, also known as Pennsylvania Dutch Country or Amish Country. The company specializes in custom cabinetry for luxury homes and yachts, with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship. Founded in 1991 by Marlin Horst, the company is now led by his son, Sheldon Horst. Premier Custom-Built has a rich history of using technology to enhance its operations, as evidenced by their makeshift museum of obsolete technology. The company is deeply rooted in the region's centuries-old tradition of woodworking, originally fostered by Swiss-German immigrants. Premier Custom-Built aims to preserve this craftsmanship while integrating modern technology to operate more effectively.
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At the center of Premier Custom-Built's digital transformation strategy is cloud-native Onshape, PTC’s product development platform that unites advanced CAD tools with built-in data management, real-time collaboration, and business analytics. Onshape has become a central part of Premier's IT department, bringing engineering and IT together to design and develop products collaboratively. The use of FeatureScript, Onshape’s open-source programming language, has allowed Premier to create more than 50 custom cabinet features, automating repetitive tasks and giving engineers more time to focus on innovation. Onshape Configurations also enable Premier to quickly modify cabinet designs based on customer preferences, making the design process more efficient.
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Onshape’s industry-specific custom CAD features save Premier 50% to 75% in design time by eliminating repetitive tasks.
Using a cloud-native product development platform eliminates the version control issues of paper manufacturing drawings.
Premier’s digital transformation goals include storing product specs in 3D CAD models instead of 3-ring binders.
50% to 75% reduction in design time due to Onshape’s custom CAD features.
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