SAP Visual Enterprise Integration for a Large Equipment Manufacturer

LeverX helped underground technology and utility construction equipment companies to streamline their end to end processes.

Client and Challenge

A U.S.-based manufacturer of underground technology and utility construction equipment needed to improve how CAD data was organized, shared, and consumed across the business. After being acquired by a larger equipment manufacturer, the company inherited two different manufacturing processes, and engineering CAD data from both organizations was not accessible across the combined enterprise.

As a result, 3D product CAD data stored in a non-SAP PLM system was effectively trapped in geographic silos. Teams could not reliably view or share product data across the newly merged organization, which slowed manufacturing operations and limited collaboration. The company also needed to bring lightweight digital twins into SAP so they could be used downstream to create 3D visual work instructions for the manufacturing shop floor.

Solution

LeverX integrated SAP Visual Enterprise into the client’s existing environment to serve as the primary bridge between the non-SAP PLM system and SAP engineering and manufacturing environments. This enabled lightweight 3D visualization and downstream use of CAD product data across the enterprise and digital supply chain.

The solution introduced capabilities such as visual asset management, visual plant maintenance and service, virtual design simulation and construction, visual manufacturing planning, and visual sales and marketing.

LeverX also implemented SAP Engineering Control Center (SAP ECTR) to provide a secure, web-based interface for accessing and sharing lightweight digital twin data and 3D visual assembly instructions, including on the manufacturing shop floor.

Technology Stack

• Integration and 3D enablement: SAP Visual Enterprise
  SAP Visual Enterprise served as the core integration layer between the client’s non-SAP PLM system and SAP engineering and manufacturing environments, enabling lightweight 3D visualization and downstream use of CAD data.
• PLM and CAD collaboration: SAP ECTR
  SAP ECTR provided a secure, web-based interface to access, display, and share lightweight 3D digital twin data and 3D visual work instructions, including usage on the manufacturing shop floor.
• Source System (3D CAD Data): non-SAP PLM system
  The client’s non-SAP PLM system contained the complete set of 3D product CAD data that required integration into SAP.
• Services: SAP implementation
  Implementation and integration services to connect systems, enable visualization workflows, and support adoption across engineering and manufacturing teams.

Results

The client improved efficiency by making 3D product data accessible across the extended enterprise and supply chain. The two merged companies established a more aligned foundation for product data usage and collaboration, supported by secure sharing of lightweight 3D digital twin visualization files across the organization.

A key outcome was enabling 3D visual work instructions on the manufacturing shop floor. Interactive step-by-step 3D instructions, including required tools, helped employees assemble products more easily and faster, improving consistency and execution across manufacturing operations.