Keylex Builds Virtual Factory for Process Innovation with PLM Solutions from IBM and Dassault Systèmes

Aiming at 50% decrease in production preparation time

Tokyo, Japan, July 17, 2006 - IBM and Dassault Systèmes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) announced today that Keylex Corporation, an automotive  parts manufacturer, has recently deployed their Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions to streamline product development processes and accelerate time-to-market.

“To meet demands for shorter product development times from our major automotive OEM customers, we need to build a virtual factory capable of increasing the operational efficiency of design and simulation,” said Yoshiaki Yamaji, Senior Managing Director, Keylex. “We plan to promote knowledge sharing and improve efficiency by adopting CATIA as our unified company-wide CAD platform.”

By building a virtual factory, Keylex aims to reduce production start-up time. In January 2005, with the support of Argo Graphics, an IBM Business Partner, and after comprehensive evaluation and competitive benchmarking, Keylex deployed CATIA V5, developed by Dassault Systèmes and belonging to IBM’s PLM solution portfolio. Keylex chose the solution because of the range of possible simulations, and its adaptability to varied customer situations. In May 2005, Keylex deployed the DELMIA 3D digital manufacturing solution from Dassault Systèmes, which is easily integrated with CATIA V5. For jigs and fixtures, and assembly line building, synchronization of 3D design and assembly data on CATIA V5 and DELMIA is a recognized advantage in the automotive industry.

Keylex has already achieved improved efficiency by standardizing the components for jigs and tools, and know-how for design, through CATIA V5’s design templates. Design preparation time is expected to decrease by about 15%, and the speed of modeling work is expected to increase by about 35%, over the company’s existing mid-range CAD application. The synergy between CATIA V5 and DELMIA means that robot instructions and jig designs can be displayed on one screen, improving productivity and facilitating equipment design evaluations. A productivity evaluation tool based on CATIA V5 allows Keylex to evaluate the production technology requirements of automakers’ product models in the early stages of vehicle development, increasing productivity.

Keylex intends to use CATIA V5 and DELMIA to create a virtual environment facilitating simulations of other aspects of its business, including distribution, and a high-precision simulation linked to welding technology. Keylex also plans to improve its process management of design-related data with ENOVIA SmarTeam, and its infrastructure for collaboration with automakers.