Microsoft, PTC and Volkswagen Group will collaborate to develop the Codebeamer Generative AI Copilot, aiming to simplify the product development process.
A new collaboration between PTC, Microsoft, and Volkswagen Group is set to redefine the landscape of manufacturing software. The trio has embarked on creating a next-generation generative AI copilot utilising the PTC Codebeamer application lifecycle management (ALM) solutiona a copilot tailored specifically for the manufacturing sector. Providing a powerful tool for software engineers involved in product development, it covers everything from initial requirements setting to the intricate phases of validating and testing, all streamlined for enhanced efficiency.
The establishment of the Codebeamer Copilot is a significant development, particularly highlighted by Volkswagen Group’s integration of the AI to bolster software development across its extensive vehicle and brands portfolio. Enhancing the Copilot’s functionality, Microsoft has contributed by incorporating the robust capabilities of Microsoft Azure AI, significantly expanding the Copilot’s utility.
Manufacturers stand to benefit immensely from the introduction of Codebeamer. It sparks a variety of essential use cases, pushing the needle forward for industry-wide AI adoption.
Addressing modern manufacturing needs
This new breed of AI, Codebeamer, is crafted to tackle the vast scale and complexity inherent in modern manufacturing practices. It enhances every aspect of the product lifecycle, from the preliminary stages of prototyping straight through to disposal and ensuring traceability.
Central to Codebeamer is its ability to facilitate seamless collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, a vital aspect of today’s manufacturing ecosystem. By integrating various workflows, the platform ensures that stakeholders like engineers, designers and quality assurance teams can work together efficiently on a unified platform. Its robust traceability features equip manufacturers with the essential tools to accurately monitor requirements, changes and compliance throughout the product’s lifecycle, thereby minimising risk and reducing miscommunication.
Optimising product development processes
Codebeamer elevates product development efficiency by automating recurrent tasks, including tracking requirements, generating documentation, and managing change requests. This automation allows teams to devote more time to tackling complex problems and driving innovation. Moreover, the AI’s predictive analytics features highlight potential process bottlenecks, offering actionable insights to prevent delays.
Kevin Wrenn, Chief Product Officer at PTC, underlines how Codebeamer’s generative AI creates substantial opportunities for businesses to align swiftly with market trends and demands.
“We apply generative AI to help customers solve problems and capitalize on market opportunities, like the efficient development of software-defined vehicles,” Kevin states. “Our collaboration with Volkswagen Group and Microsoft on Codebeamer Copilot gives us the best of both worlds: an industry-leading manufacturer in Volkswagen Group that demonstrates how these solutions apply in a real-world context, and a partner in Microsoft that is pushing the envelope on generative AI and bringing state-of-the-art technology to the market,” he adds.
Ensuring compliance and risk management
In manufacturing, adhering to strict industry regulations like ISO, FDA, and IEC standards is paramount. Codebeamer AI simplifies this critical compliance management through its built-in templates and workflows tailored to these standards. Its sophisticated risk management tools proactively identify, evaluate and mitigate risks early in the lifecycle, thus reducing liabilities and ensuring ongoing regulatory compliance.
Designed to blend effortlessly with other tools like Azure DevOps and Microsoft 365, and compatible with prominent third-party manufacturing systems like ERP and PLM, Codebeamer ensures a cohesive data ecosystem. This integration fosters improved decision-making and operational efficiency, making manufacturing processes smoother and more controllable.
Robert Kattner, Head of IT Engineering at Volkswagen Group, vouches for the elevated efficiency made possible through the integration with Microsoft Azure AI. “By having Microsoft Azure AI in the Codebeamer software, it can assist us with creating new specifications and test cases,” Robert affirms.
Variations in scope and complexity are common in manufacturing projects. Codebeamer’s AI is designed with extensive customisation options to cater to every unique manufacturing need. This scalable approach ensures that Codebeamer can support both small-scale projects and extensive enterprise-level operations.
Leveraging AI for enhanced decision-making
At its core, Codebeamer features advanced AI capabilities that offer crucial insights aimed at improving resource allocation and predictive maintenance. These insights help manufacturers adopt best practices and reduce time-to-market for new products, solidifying Codebeamer’s role as a pivotal player in the advancement of AI within the industry.
With a blend of compliance, efficiency, collaboration, and intelligence, Codebeamer Copilot is setting the stage for a transformative impact in the manufacturing domain, steadfast in driving the industry’s adoption of AI technologies.
Select PTC customers can look forward to a beta release of Codebeamer Copilot by early 2025, marking a significant step forward in harnessing AI to streamline and enhance manufacturing processes extensively.
