Toyota Manufacturing UK Uses DELMIA to Optimize Design-for-Manufacture Process; Digital Technology Enables Automakers' Strategy for Global Information Sharing across the Extended Enterprise

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.--Oct. 2, 20056, 2005--Dassault Systemes , announced today that DELMIA digital manufacturing software is being deployed by Toyota Manufacturing UK as part of a strategy that is altering the way in which its cars are built by enabling the sharing of common real-time information throughout the enterprise. This is a continuation of Toyota's strategy, announced in 2002, to employ Dassault Systemes' 3D PLM solutions.

"Toyota Motor Corporation has always maintained a centralized manufacturing design function in Japan," explains John Grainger, Project Specialist in the Production Planning and Control Division at Toyota Manufacturing UK. "Teams of engineers and team leaders would travel to Japan and spend several weeks understanding the designs for a new model and how to build it. Now, through development of a tailored manufacturing environment involving software from and DELMIA and other suppliers, design data is stored in a common repository and accessible throughout the enterprise, allowing Toyota Manufacturing in locations outside Japan to share in the design-for-manufacture process."

With access to DELMIA V5 DPM Assembly, Toyota Manufacturing UK engineers were able to optimize an assembly manufacturing process concurrently during the design phase. In addition, by implementing a DELMIA V5 Human add-on to examine reach and motion, the UK group has been able to analyze the manufacturing feasibility of each and every different variant of its models.

Thanks partially to digital technology, the design-for-manufacture of some future models will take place entirely outside Japan. These models will be designed digitally and will also have all their processes, tooling and even employee training completed using advanced simulation, which then can be shared with Japan. Although the management of all the data will be controlled through Japan, each manufacturing department, from welding to plastics, will have access to the engineering data within the same DELMIA V5 environment.

Grainger adds, "In the UK, we have currently only hosted one digital design review, but as they increase in frequency, we expect our total expenditure to have paid for itself within the year. Trips to Japan will become less common thanks to the power of digital technology in shrinking the distance between global teams working towards a common goal."

About Toyota Manufacturing UK

Toyota's decision to establish a manufacturing operation in Europe was announced in 1989 and Toyota Manufacturing UK was established in December that year. There are two manufacturing plants in the UK representing a total investment in excess of GBP 1.7 billion and currently over 4,700 members are employed. The vehicle manufacturing plant is located at Burnaston in Derbyshire, the engine manufacturing plant is located at Deeside in North Wales. The processes at Burnaston include stamping, welding, painting, plastic mouldings and assembly and at Deeside machining, assembly and aluminium casting. Information about Toyota Manufacturing UK is available at: http://www.toyotauk.com.

About DELMIA

DELMIA is a premier brand for digital manufacturing solutions, focused on two unique software applications that can be used to streamline manufacturing processes. DELMIA Automation provides solutions to digitally design test and validate the control of a machine, workcell, or entire factory line and DELMIA PLM provides the process and resource capability to enable continuous creation and validation of manufacturing processes as related to the product throughout the entire product lifecycle. DELMIA serves industries where the optimization of manufacturing processes is critical, including automotive, aerospace, fabrication and assembly, electrical and electronics, consumer goods, plant, and shipbuilding sectors. Information about DELMIA is available at http://www.delmia.com.

About Dassault Systemes

As world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, the Dassault Systemes group brings value to more than 80,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systemes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire life cycle of products from conception to maintenance. Our offering includes integrated PLM solutions for product development (CATIA(R), DELMIA(R), ENOVIA(R), SMARTEAM(R)), mainstream 3D design tools (SolidWorks(R)), and 3D components (Spatial/ACIS(R)). Dassault Systemes is listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges. For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com