Enigma Targets Aftermarket

Enigma Inc., with the latest enhancement to its e-business software for support chain systems, has made inroads with wins in both government and industry.

The Burlington, Mass., companys 3C Platform targets manufacturers and operators of complex capital equipment to simplify maintenance processes to reduce costs and streamline parts identification.

Enigma officials said they are focused on the aftermarket business for people who sell capital equipment. Typical Enigma applications include sites that provide integrated customer support and e-commerce; dynamic, illustrated parts catalogs; interactive electronic technical manuals; and collaborative communities. All the data is brought into 3C Platform and tied together with XML, officials said.

Enigma last month announced its CIS (Component Information System), which extends 3C Platform and aggregates and integrates maintenance and repair content from suppliers. Enigma streamlines access to this kind of technical information, helps decrease maintenance cycles, and contributes to uptime and regulatory compliance, officials said.

Bill Kone, supervisory mechanical engineer with the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, said that before using Enigmas software, the Navy spent $2,000 to $3,000 to print and distribute technical manuals. "Now we can put it on CD for a buck or two," Kone said. His group uses 3C Platform and is looking forward to using CIS technology.

"Its the kind of thing were really looking to do," said Kone, in Bremerton, Wash. "Were looking to make hooks into the systems so that users can get as much information as possible. We want to pack as much data in there as possible."

MG Rover Group Ltd., in Birmingham, England, last week said it will use 3C Platform as part of an integrated global parts service operated by Caterpillar Logistics. Caterpillar Logistics is a subsidiary of construction equipment maker Caterpillar Inc., of Peoria, Ill.

Enigma said the project aims to increase MG Rovers after-sales business and improve customer satisfaction by using Enigmas XML-based 3C Platform to provide better spare parts support for MG Rover maintenance and after-sales services.

The platform will provide dealers with electronic access to the complete parts catalog of 60,000 part numbers and more than 7,500 illustrations for the entire current MG Rover range, all in seven languages, Enigma officials said. Dealers will be able to use enhanced search, visual navigation and intelligent cross-referencing to carry out servicing and maintenance operations more efficiently.

The system is slated to go live next month. Don Lindsay, head of MG Rovers after-sales group, said the parts business represents $281 million in revenue to the company.