Metal doors are widely utilized in commercial, residential as well as hospital buildings and are a perfect example of ETO (Engineered-to-Order) products. The door design although remains overall the same, there are different level of customization possible based on type of core, locking mechanism, levers, etc.

In a conventional door manufacturing unit, every custom order is handled individually and the design information for each order is developed based on the requirements received from the customer. The engineering team is required to understand the requirements, determine the manufacturing cost that will be incurred and finally determine the price and delivery date for the customer. Such conventional door design and manufacturing processes have multiple flaws that can keep manufacturers inefficient and at times cause delay in product shipments.

It is critical for manufacturers to adopt a robust design automation tool such as DriveWorks that can assist in keeping the sales, design and manufacturing processes efficient and quick, and allow faster product delivery to end customers.

What is DriveWoks?

DriveWorks is a CPQ (Configure-Price-Quote) tool which helps in automating SOLIDWORKS based product designs to allow manufacturers to quickly generate 3D models, drawings, quotes and other relevant design information for each custom product configuration. The tool leverages the benefits of parametric design capabilities of SOLIDWORKS through a rule based design approach.

Utilizing rule builder, DriveWorks automatically configures a master CAD model prepared in SOLIDWORKS based on inputs received through a form. The tool is ideal for automating repetitive design tasks encountered while developing built-to-order products or for products that are modular in construction. It also provides the opportunity to develop a sales configurator that can be utilized by sales reps to comprehend customer requirements more accurately and quote accurate price for their specific product configuration.

Automate Door Design with DriveWorks

It usually takes 4-5 days for a metal door manufacturer to process customer order, develop design information, manufacture it and finally deliver it to the customer. This is essentially due to the involvement of multiple factors such as the need to perform repetitive design tasks, determining suitable frame design for each custom order, selecting appropriate lock and performing necessary design modification to match the lock requirements, etc. Through DriveWorks however, the engineering lead time for custom metal door design can reduced to as short as 10 minutes.

By developing a master CAD model of doors, frames and library of accessories in SOLIDWORKS, the design knowledge can be captured through DriveWorks using the rule builder. A front-end form can then be developed, where a customer or a sales person will enter the details, based on which the order can be processes at the manufacturing floor to release the specific 3D models, fabrication drawings and BOMs for custom door configuration. Attaching cost information for each configuration can further reduce the time required in generating quote for customers. It is even possible to accurately estimate the delivery time of the customized door at the customer’s doorstep.

Conclusion

Design automation and CPQ tools like DriveWorks can provide metal door manufacturers an ability to quickly respond to customer inquiries, develop accurate quotes, design and manufacture custom orders faster and eventually deliver them on time. Implementing DriveWorks for SOLIDWORKS based door designs can take manufacturer’s productivity to the next level and provide an opportunity to differentiate from the competition. These tools also help manufacturers to eliminate errors arising from repetitive design tasks and reduce production scrap, which ultimately helps them in maintaining a sustainable profit margin and an enhanced customer buying experience.