EIZO Selects Aras to Enhance Digital Transformation and Agility

EIZO Corporation, established in 1968 and headquartered in Hakusan, Japan, is renowned for its high-quality visual display products. Initially a manufacturer of televisions, EIZO transitioned to producing computer monitors in the 1980s, focusing on innovative display technologies. Over the years, EIZO has expanded its product offerings to cater to various professional markets, including healthcare, graphics, gaming, air traffic control, and industrial sectors.

Their product lineup includes color-accurate monitors for graphic design, ergonomic and high-resolution monitors for office use, advanced display solutions for medical applications, and reliable monitors for industrial and air traffic control applications. EIZO’s commitment to quality, precision, and customer satisfaction has cemented its reputation as a leading provider of visual display solutions worldwide.

EIZO must stay on the cutting edge of product lifecycle management (PLM) and manufacturing processes to support its position as an industry-leading manufacturer of superb visual display technology.

As part of this goal, EIZO successfully implemented Aras Innovator® for PLM to enhance its digital thread capabilities. Deployment of the Aras PLM platform improved product data management, streamlined engineering change processes, and enabled ERP system synchronization. Aras Innovator’s flexibility also enables EIZO to continue adapting to evolving business needs, resulting in ongoing increases in productivity and efficiency.

“Aras Innovator is working exactly as we originally envisioned, right down to the ease of linking data together and referencing links. The way it enables data connectivity directly to machines to reflect product specs and requirements at the push of a button represents the ultimate digital thread, the ultimate mass customization. Aras Innovator has provided the foundations for us to realize that new world.”

RYOSUKE KOIZUMI, IT PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT SECTION MANAGER, EIZO

Pain Points

The company initially embraced PDM (Product Data Management) solution around 20 years ago to manage data from CAD tools for mechanical and electrical design. However, when integrating its ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system with BOM (Bill of Materials) from their PDM, EIZO found that the existing PDM functions were lacking.

EIZO struggled to integrate its product data across different systems because the company’s existing setup prevented them from developing add-ons for use with Engineering Change Requests, Change Orders (ECR/ECO), and ERP. These limitations made it difficult to synchronize data across systems effectively, leading to inefficiencies and data silos.

Another significant pain point was the lack of a comprehensive end-to-end information management system. EIZO needed a streamlined process that could seamlessly manage product data between development and manufacturing which was not possible with the legacy solution. This gap in their system led to fragmented data handling and potential errors.

Furthermore, the existing product data management functions were not flexible enough to accommodate the dynamic nature of EIZO’s business needs. As the company grew and its product lines evolved, the rigidity of its current system became a bottleneck, impeding innovation and responsiveness to market demands.

PLM Requirements

When searching for a solution to the pain points above, EIZO’s PLM requirements focused on:

• Improving system integrations to increase speed of data transfers and reduce repetitive work and errors
• Handling more complex functionalities across teams as technology evolves
• Efficiently managing Engineering Change Requests and Change Orders
• Seamlessly integrating with ERP systems

Additionally, EIZO required a robust end-to-end information management system that could handle data from development to manufacturing, ensuring consistency and reducing errors. The flexibility to adapt to evolving business needs was also crucial, so they sought a PLM system that could grow and change with the company.

“It was clear that we could not expand any further with the system we had at the time.”

RYOSUKE KOIZUMI, IT PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT SECTION MANAGER, EIZO

Lastly, the team recognized that the transition to a new Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution could pose significant challenges in and of itself. EIZO sought to ensure that the necessary transition did not disrupt ongoing operations. The complexity of migrating from an old system to a new one while maintaining business continuity and minimizing downtime was a critical objective that required careful planning and execution.

Successes with Aras Innovator

After comparing both functional and non-functional requirements (ease of development, openness, licensing system, etc.) and making a decision based on alignment with their objectives, the EIZO team chose Aras Innovator as its PLM platform.

After implementing Aras Innovator, EIZO saw significant improvements in integrating product data across various systems, ensuring a seamless flow of information and better synchronization with ERP systems.

This enhanced integration allowed for more efficient management of Engineering Change Requests and Change Orders, streamlining their change management processes and making them more responsive to business needs.

The flexibility of the new PLM solution enabled EIZO to adapt to its evolving business requirements effectively, supporting the company’s growth and innovation efforts. Moreover, the transition to Aras Innovator was smooth, minimizing operational disruptions and maintaining business continuity. This successful migration ensured that EIZO could continue operations without significant downtime, enhancing overall productivity.

Results: Improved Efficiency, Streamlined Workflows, and Fewer Errors

Implementing Aras Innovator met all of EIZO’s expectations and led to significant benefits. For example, the company reported a 30% reduction in the time required to process Engineering Change Requests and Change Orders, improving overall efficiency. Integrating the PLM system also streamlined workflows and reduced errors, contributing to a 25% increase in productivity. Additionally, the new system’s flexibility and adaptability supported EIZO’s evolving business needs, allowing for continuous innovation and growth.

Overall, Aras Innovator has enabled EIZO to stay on the cutting edge of visual display technology, continually releasing inventive new products and demonstrating impressive growth in a competitive global market.