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Dimensions Furniture: Enhancing Design and Production with IoT
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
The 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 The 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.
The 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.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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