Steinhoff manufactures leaner processes with DriveWorks and Intercad

SYDNEY, Australia – Steinhoff Furniture, a leading Australian designer and manufacturer of customised office furniture, has implemented DriveWorks computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software to optimise the design and manufacture of its office screen partitions.

DriveWorks CAD/CAM software dramatically reduces the time required to produce engineer-to-order, custom and customised products, and is expected to double Steinhoff’s business and decrease its labour costs by eight per cent. DriveWorks is a SolidWorks Certified Gold Partner application with both products distributed solely in Australia and New Zealand by CAD/CAM specialist Intercad.

Based in Adelaide, Steinhoff Furniture designs and manufactures custom office furniture including office screen partitions and workstations. Steinhoff works closely with architects and interior designers across Australia on the design of furniture for office layouts and employs 50 people at its Adelaide operations.

Clarke Puru, General Manager, Operations, Steinhoff Furniture, says the CAD/CAM system is being implemented to increase productivity in both the pre-sales and final ordering design processes for office screen partitions.

“DriveWorks will greatly decrease the time taken to provide a quote for a customer and, after the customer has approved the quote, reduce the time needed to turn it into a sales order,” he says. “We expect the time taken for this process to be cut down from days to only hours.”

DriveWorks has in-built engineering rules so when a customer places an order the software can indicate if the order will need further customisation and if this will cause a delay in delivery time. This then gives the customer the option of changing their order, if need be, to meet their deadline.

“We want to be able to compete with a more scalable business model which means increasing our output without significantly increasing our inputs throughout the entire design process,” Puru says.

“It is important to operate a lean manufacturing process and be able to respond rapidly to our customers’ varying needs.”

DriveWorks automates repetitive tasks and generates manufacturing data automatically and can also be integrated with existing software systems, like Steinhoff’s MRP II system, making design information more easily available across separate business departments.

Intercad supplies both SolidWorks and DriveWorks to Australian and New Zealand designers, engineers and manufacturers. By integrating both software systems and providing all the necessary training and support, Intercad is adding extra value for its customers who are trying to compete in a shrinking global manufacturing market.

“DriveWorks works with data contained within SolidWorks to increase the speed and accuracy of output and allow non-technical people, including sales reps, to quote, specify and configure product without risk to the quality of the result,” says Scott Frayne, Managing Director, Intercad.

One of Steinhoff’s requirements when selecting a CAD/CAM supplier was ensuring that the provider was large enough to offer a high level of service and support to help it grow as a business. The future development of SolidWorks and DriveWorks was considered carefully by Steinhoff Furniture to ensure the long-term viability of its investment in the software.

About SolidWorks Corporation
SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systèmes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets software for design, analysis, and product data management. It is the leading supplier of 3D CAD technology, giving teams intuitive, high-performing software that helps them design better products. For the latest news, information, or an online demonstration, visit the company’s Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000).

About Intercad Pty Ltd

Intercad Pty Ltd is the sole distributor of SolidWorks in Australia and New Zealand. Intercad Pty Ltd is an Australian-owned company specialising in Mechanical Computer-Aided Engineering, Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (MCAE/CAD/CAM) solutions. Established in 1989 with offices in each major state capital in Australia and New Zealand, its core activities include software sales, training and consulting services as well as technical support. For more information please visit www.intercad.com.au or call Intercad’s head office on 02 9454 4444.