How D’ANDREA cut product development time by 75% with NX and Teamcenter
D’ANDREA, an Italian precision engineering company that manufactures accessories and tooling for machine tools, reduced the development time for an item from 8 hours to 2 hours by connecting NX with Teamcenter. In its case study, Siemens reports a 75% reduction in development time, an approximately 50% reduction in NX CAM programming time, and a threefold acceleration in time to market.
The result goes beyond shortening a single task. D’ANDREA connected design data, CNC programming and product data management so teams could work from a consistent source of information, reduce repetitive work and respond to customer requests faster.
D’ANDREA’s challenge: responding to customers faster
Based in Lainate, Italy, family-owned D’ANDREA manufactures toolholders, modular systems and CNC products for metal cutting and boring. The company operates two facilities while managing a growing range of products and increasingly varied customer requirements.
For precision components with many variants, teams need to update designs, quotations and manufacturing processes quickly while maintaining accuracy. Disconnected systems and workflows can add time to data handoffs, programming, machine setup and change management across departments.
Siemens says D’ANDREA focused on meeting customer expectations, managing product complexity, shortening programming and setup time, and removing bottlenecks caused by disconnected processes.
NX and Teamcenter connect product data from design through manufacturing
D’ANDREA engineers create 3D models in NX CAD and embed product manufacturing information (PMI), such as dimensions and tolerances, directly in the model. Teamcenter centrally manages design data and processes, giving teams access to a consistent source of information instead of multiple file copies.
In the case study, R&D Manager Alessandro Castellini explains that adding an item with the previous CAD system could take an entire production day. With NX and Teamcenter, the task takes about 2 hours. Siemens reports this as a reduction from 8 hours to 2 hours, or 75%.
NX CAM reduces CNC programming time by about 50%
D’ANDREA uses NX CAM to program several types of CNC machines, including twin-turret lathes and 5-axis milling centers. Siemens says feature recognition and recommended machining strategies and tools help reduce manual programming work.
Teams can program turning and milling in one system, review toolpaths and simulate processes before production. Digital twin simulation helps identify potential collisions or other issues early, allowing teams to adjust toolpaths and setups before they affect material or machine time.
Siemens reports an approximately 50% reduction in programming time and near-zero scrap, citing programming, simulation and process verification with the digital twin. These results are attributed to Shop Floor Manager Michele Martinelli in the case study.
Results Siemens reports for D’ANDREA
- Reduced development time from 8 hours to 2 hours, a 75% reduction.
- Cut CNC programming time by approximately 50% with NX CAM.
- Accelerated time to market by a factor of three.
- Connected manufacturing processes across two facilities and multiple product lines.
- Improved the ability to respond to varied customer requirements.
These figures are results reported by Siemens for D’ANDREA. Outcomes at other companies depend on their existing processes, product data and implementation scope.
What precision manufacturers can learn from this case study
The case study highlights the value of connecting data and workflows: NX supports design and model updates; NX CAM supports CNC programming and machining simulation; and Teamcenter manages product data and processes. When design changes flow to relevant teams through a shared digital thread, manufacturers can reduce manual transfers and version mismatches.
This approach may be worth evaluating for manufacturers with many product variants, frequent customization requests, repetitive CNC programming or difficult handoffs between design, CAM and production. Before implementation, companies should identify process bottlenecks, the data they need to manage and measurable indicators such as development time, programming time, program revisions and response time to customer requests.
Frequently asked questions about NX, NX CAM and Teamcenter at D’ANDREA
How much did D’ANDREA reduce development time?
Siemens reports that development time fell from 8 hours to 2 hours, a 75% reduction.
Which Siemens solutions does D’ANDREA use?
The case study describes NX CAD, NX CAM and Teamcenter for design, machining programming and product data management.
How does NX CAM improve CNC programming?
Siemens reports an approximately 50% reduction in programming time. D’ANDREA also simulates machining to check toolpaths and identify collisions before production.
How does Teamcenter support D’ANDREA’s workflow?
Teamcenter centrally manages design data and processes, helping departments work from a consistent source and reducing scattered or duplicate files.
Can every manufacturer expect the same results as D’ANDREA?
No. These are results Siemens reports for D’ANDREA. Outcomes elsewhere depend on processes, data, products and implementation scope.
Explore NX, NX CAM and Teamcenter for precision manufacturing
Manufacturers evaluating an integrated CAD/CAM/PLM workflow can learn more about Siemens NX and Teamcenter. Top Solutions can help review design, CNC programming and product data processes to identify a suitable implementation scope.
