Streamlining approval processes to reduce workflow completion from weeks to days

Providing standard and tailored solutions

Applied CAx, a Siemens Digital Industries partner, provides services across multiple programs and clients rather than focusing on a single program. Although the company’s expertise generally applies across standard customer implementations, it can develop tailored solutions for specific customer needs.

Leveraging Siemens solutions

Applied CAx leverages Siemens’ comprehensive solutions portfolio, with expertise in Teamcenter® software, NX™ computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software and Simcenter™ software. The company specializes in implementing these tools to create seamless digital workflows that connect design, engineering and manufacturing processes. Teamcenter, NX and Simcenter are part of the Siemens Xcelerator business platform of software, hardware and services.

The company’s implementation approach focuses on reducing friction between various Siemens tools by encouraging adoption of the complete ecosystem.

“The more companies adopt the Siemens suite of tools, the more efficiency they get out-of-the-box because there is less friction moving from one tool to another,” says Dale Goulding, executive director, aerospace and defense at Applied CAx.

Applied CAx helps customers install Teamcenter, migrate data into the Siemens ecosystem, develop custom processes and create specialized workflows that match specific business requirements. The company’s expertise spans the entire product lifecycle, from early requirements definition through conceptual design, detailed design, manufacturing integration and enterprise-level connections.

Helping clients navigate challenges

Applied CAx faces the challenge of helping clients navigate increasingly complex product development environments where traditional approaches no longer suffice. Customers struggle with siloed data, disconnected workflows and the need to accelerate innovation while maintaining quality and compliance. In the aerospace and defense industry, companies face unique requirements for approval workflows, inspection criteria and regulatory compliance that off-the-shelf solutions cannot address.

Its customers face strategic challenges that include competitive pressures to reduce development time, improve first-time quality and integrate sustainable practices while managing costs. Additionally, many organizations struggle with legacy systems that cannot support modern collaborative workflows or digital transformation initiatives.

“Some companies had a need for discrete workflows in how they would approve engineering drawings and how they would release those drawings to be manufactured,” says Goulding. “So certain parts would need different levels of signatory approval or alternative inspection criteria.”

These challenges directly impact business operations by creating bottlenecks in product development, limiting innovation potential and increasing time-to-market. Applied CAx addresses these issues by helping customers implement tailored digital solutions that streamline processes while maintaining necessary controls. Its focus on aerospace, defense and energy sectors allows the company to apply industry-specific knowledge to each implementation, creating solutions that address technical and business challenges.

Tailoring solutions to customer needs

The success of Applied CAx stems from several key factors that differentiate its approach. First, it invests significant time upfront to understand customer needs rather than pushing predetermined solutions.

“We spend a lot of time upfront, listening to customers and what they really want, being intentional about what do they need and not trying to push what we think they need,” says Goulding.

Next, having access to the Siemens portfolio enables the company to implement comprehensive solutions that leverage the full power of the integrated ecosystem. Unlike competitors who may only focus on certain aspects of the Siemens suite, Applied CAx covers a vast portion of the tools, specializing in Teamcenter and NX. This breadth allows the company to create seamless workflows that eliminate friction between various tools and processes.

“Most larger firms struggle to understand our unique desires,” says Bradley Morian, senior director of engineering solutions at Sierra Space. “This is not the case with Applied CAx. It’s as if they intuitively grasp why we’re not like the competition and why that matters. This collaboration, along with a drive for action, is the underpinning of our engineering digital transformation.”

Additionally, the company employs clear project management methodologies with well-defined scope and boundaries. “We are very good at defining a clear statement of work and making sure boundaries are set so everybody has a good scope definition,” says Goulding. This approach ensures successful implementations that
meet customer expectations.

The industry focus of Applied CAx allows it to apply template-based solutions built on past implementations while customizing them for specific customer needs. This balance of proven approaches with tailored execution helps customers transform their operations from siloed, manual processes to integrated digital workflows that support innovation and efficiency.

Benefiting from digital transformation

Applied CAx has demonstrated significant success in helping customers transform their digital engineering capabilities. Its customers have experienced streamlined approval processes, with workflows that previously took weeks now completed in days. By implementing tailored Teamcenter solutions, Applied CAx helps aerospace companies reduce engineering change cycle times and improve first-time quality of designs. Additionally, by integrating manufacturing processes with engineering systems, the company reduces errors and rework, leading to faster time-to-market for new products.

This ability to deliver transformative results quickly has been valuable for innovative companies pushing technological boundaries.

Applied CAx implementations also improve collaboration across distributed teams, enabling companies to leverage global talent while maintaining consistent processes and data integrity. Its solutions help customers achieve regulatory compliance while reducing the administrative burden associated with documentation and approvals.

Cultivating sustainable solutions

Applied CAx has embraced sustainability in its internal operations and in the solutions it delivers. The company actively supports clients in the energy sector who are developing sustainable technologies, including renewable energy solutions and more efficient systems.

“Applied CAx is the definition of a strategic partner for X-energy,” says Matthew Welsh, chief information officer (CIO) at X-energy. “They have demonstrated their expertise in technology as well as the unique challenges in the nuclear energy industry daily. Our company faces immense challenges in adopting innovative digital engineering
capabilities, and the thought leadership and executive engagement from Applied CAx has made the difference and accelerated our adoption of these cutting-edge tools and processes.”

In the aerospace sector, Applied CAx helps companies develop and test battery electric and hydrogen propulsion systems that represent the future of sustainable aviation.

“In the aerospace sector, we help companies flight test purely battery electric systems or hydrogen systems,” says Goulding. “We have companies that are in the emerging space economy that’s currently flourishing, which is going to help all of us on Earth from a sustainability perspective as well.”

Applied CAx plans to expand its capabilities for supporting sustainable product development using enhanced digital twin technologies that allow for more efficient design optimization and reduce physical prototyping. The company continues to invest in expertise around the full Siemens portfolio to provide comprehensive solutions that support its customers’ sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Applied CAx recognizes that digital transformation contributes to sustainability by reducing paper-based processes, enabling more efficient use of resources and supporting remote collaboration that reduces travel requirements. The company’s implementation methodologies focus on creating enduring solutions that grow with its customers, ensuring sustainable business practices and long-term value.