Jan De Nul taps Emixa for digital transformation of engineering processes
Jan De Nul Group, a global leader in maritime and civil construction, tapped Emixa to help complete a significant digital transformation of its engineering processes by adopting Siemens NX.
This strategic move, executed in close collaboration with business consultancy firm Emixa, aimed to future-proof the company’s design capabilities and enhance overall operational efficiency. Jan De Nul Group has been involved with some high-profile projects, including the Palm Islands in Dubai and constructing new locks in the Panama Canal.
The Belgian family-owned company, known for its innovative approach to offshore and infrastructure projects, previously faced limitations with legacy CAD tools, which slowed projects and complicated external collaboration. Their workflows needed to be optimized because the company struggled with extended lead times and increased operational costs.
“Our legacy CAD tools limited innovation and slowed down engineering efficiency,” stated Wouter Tollet, Manager of the Design Department at Jan De Nul. “The lack of standardized workflows led to long lead times and increased operational costs.”
The large-scale project involved migrating over 1.2 million CAD models from Creo Elements and Creo Direct to Siemens NX CAD, integrating with Windchill, a product lifecycle management (PLM) software. After a comprehensive training program for user adoption, the group enjoyed more streamlined data management. This data migration achieved an impressive 98.6% success rate.
Because of the huge scale of the migration, a phased rollout was part of ensuring success. The strong collaboration with Emixa provided important technical expertise and support. Emixa’s project management team, led by Joost Laureys, also played a crucial role in navigating the complexities of the transition.
Reaping the benefits
The digital transformation program has yielded measurable benefits, including significantly reduced lead times through parametric design, improved design quality with enhanced traceability, and more efficient collaboration with internal and external stakeholders via Windchill. High user adoption was achieved thanks to structured training and ongoing support.
Reflecting on the success factors, Tollet said: “A successful transition begins with thorough preparation. Map out your processes, involve your team, and choose a partner who not only delivers software but also offers strategic thinking and implementation support.”
This successful transformation underscores the power of strategic planning and expert implementation in driving sustainable growth within a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Looking forward towards continued innovation, Jan De Nul is currently exploring expanded NX capabilities and investing in other new technologies.
