Where automation helps in automotive
| Area | Automation examples |
|---|---|
| Body-in-white | Weld spot creation and export, flange and hemming features, joining data |
| Tooling and dies | Standard die components, plate generation, BOM and drawings |
| Fixtures and jigs | Locator, clamp and base plate libraries with automated layouts |
| Wiring harness | Connector libraries, wire lists, formboard drawings |
| Powertrain components | Parametric gears, shafts and housings from calculations |
| Data compliance | OEM methodology checks, naming, layers, attributes |
Tier supplier challenges
Suppliers often work with several OEMs, each with its own CAD system (CATIA, NX, Creo), data standards and delivery formats. Automation helps by:
- Checking models against each OEM's methodology before delivery.
- Converting and packaging data in the required formats (native, JT, STEP).
- Filling OEM-specific title blocks and attributes automatically.
- Keeping records of what was delivered for each design release.
Managing variants
Vehicles come in many trims, markets and powertrains. Automation generates and validates part variants, updates effectivity data and produces variant-specific drawings and BOMs.
Tooling design automation
Tool and die makers reuse standard components such as guide pillars, punches, springs and plates from catalogues. Automated libraries and layout tools can significantly reduce tool design time, and generate plate machining drawings and BOMs automatically.
In automotive, the winners are those who deliver correct data on time, every time. Automation makes that repeatable.
Electric vehicle engineering
Battery packs, busbars and cooling plates involve repetitive geometry and many variants, making them strong candidates for parametric automation and rule-based checks such as creepage and clearance distances.
Platforms
CATIA V5 and 3DEXPERIENCE, Siemens NX and PTC Creo dominate OEM environments; SOLIDWORKS and Inventor are common for tooling and fixtures. We work across all of them.
Automotive CAD automation with ENGIMANDI
ENGIMANDI supports OEMs and suppliers with CATIA automation, Creo automation, SolidWorks tooling automation and multi-CAD data tools.