Larry Maloney, Editorial Director --
Design News,
July 2, 2001
ADVERTISEMENT
Sponsored Content
Technology Marketplace
Los Angeles —Companies that need additional engineering resources can now tap a global talent pool, thanks to a new service started by MSC.Software, the analysis software firm.
Called the Engineering Exchange, the service offers the skills of nearly 700 design, analysis, and production experts. "Manufacturers are trying to run lean and mean, and they often don't have staff to handle peak loads," notes Rob Swette, director of Marketing and Business Development for MSC's Engineering E-Commerce Group. "That's why engineering services has become a $4 billion annual business."
To help clients to find consultants fast, Engineering Exchange has developed templates covering project needs in analysis, mechanical design, software development, test, and production methods. These templates include such factors as: project description, objectives, budget, milestones, nondisclosure requirements, types of software files to be created, engineering standards and codes, and desired deliverables.
"Clients tell us that the search for engineering outsourcing help that used to take them a month can now be accomplished in a couple days," says Swette.
So far, more than 200 companies have used the service. They pay $500 per project, plus some hourly fees for ancillary services—or they can pay an annual fee of $12,500 for a gold membership that covers unlimited outsourcing projects. The latter program is recommended for companies that typically contract for $100,000 or more of engineering services a year. Gold clients also get an MSC account manager who assists them in tracking the return on investment for each project.
An Online Meeting Tool allows clients to share control of software applications with their consultants, and a Message Board maintains a running log of questions and answers on key aspects of the project.
MSC keeps an online background file on all consultants affiliated with the exchange, as well as links to their websites. Also posted on the site: evaluations by client and consultant following completed projects.
To learn more, visit www. engineering-e.com or call: 1-888-817-ECOM. MSC is also promoting the service on the Autodesk website.
JUNE 26TH WEBCAST: Collaborative Requirements Engineering
Speed your innovation. Capture the "voice of the customer" and translate customer requests into user requirements that define new products. Find out why the new ENOVIA Requirements Management solution enables organizations to improve their overall global requirements management process. Read More
Mechatronics in action
Successful synergistic integration of controls, electronics, computers and mechanical systems is key to the 21st century design process. Unlock the secrets at the Mechatronics Zone!
Webcast: Sensor Know-How Now
Join our moderator Randy Frank and John Keating from Cognex and explore Solving Industrial Inspection Problems. Read More
Engineering Concept Conduit
Engineering Concept Conduit looks at new products and the components that make them exceptional. Each month we’ll look at a new electronic product and see what makes it tick from an engineering point of view. We’ll explore the design and engineering challenges for the product and examine the components that solved those challenges.
Light Matters: Systems Level Approach to HBLED illumination applications
Its good practice to apply a systems-level approach to high-brightness LED (HBLED) illumination applications. Minimally, the system includes the optical, thermal and electrical characteristics of the of the HBLED, the lens (if any) which is built-in to its package, secondary optics such as external plastic lenses/reflectors to direct the light as your application requires and power driver electronics. Read More
Design News RSS News Feeds
Webcast: Sensor Know-How Now
