SOLIDWORKS
Intuitive 3D CAD for mechanical design, modeling, and documentation preparation for products and assemblies.
Brief description
Dassault Systèmes (3DS) is a French multinational software company specializing in 3D design, computer-aided engineering (CAE), digital manufacturing, and product lifecycle management (PLM). The company was founded in 1981 and is one of the world leaders in design and industrial engineering solutions. A key element of the 3DS ecosystem is the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which integrates design, modeling, data management, collaboration, and manufacturing processes into a single digital environment. This approach helps companies create "digital twins" of products and processes, improve development quality, accelerate time-to-market, and reduce costs.
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Intuitive 3D CAD for mechanical design, modeling, and documentation preparation for products and assemblies.
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SOLIDWORKS is more commonly suited to mechanical engineering, instrument engineering, tooling and mass-produced items with standard geometry. CATIA is chosen for complex surfaces, large assemblies, aerospace systems and multidisciplinary design. The decision depends not on the size of the company, but on the complexity of the product. SOLIDWORKS is usually considered for machine tools and equipment. For aircraft, cars or complex layouts, it is worth evaluating CATIA alongside 3DEXPERIENCE.
3DEXPERIENCE is more comprehensive than standard PDM. PDM manages CAD files, versions, permissions and document workflows. The platform adds project management, collaboration, roles, digital twins, simulations and manufacturing processes. The difference is particularly noticeable when a project involves multiple plants, contractors and different disciplines. The team works with a shared product structure, rather than sending copies of models and tables between departments.
Yes, data can be migrated following an audit. Specialists check the formats, folder structures, attributes, versions and relationships between parts and assemblies. They then determine what to migrate automatically, what to delete and what to retain in the archive. A test migration across several projects helps to identify errors before the main roll-out. GEO-MENTOR configures the migration rules and verifies the accuracy of the data in the new PLM environment.
Yes, the platform supports distributed working and centralised management of engineering data. Sites use shared catalogues, product structures, statuses and change trails. Project access rights are defined by role. Before go-live, it is important to define data owners and data-sharing rules. A cloud-based architecture simplifies site connectivity, whilst an on-premises or hybrid architecture is suitable for organisations with specific infrastructure and data storage requirements.
Start with a process where losses are already evident: version confusion, lengthy approval processes or the need to re-model parts. Identify the stakeholders, documents, deadlines and common errors. Then carry out an audit and select a pilot project for a limited group of users. Once the scenarios have been tested, the system can be rolled out to other departments and sites. GEO-MENTOR supports you every step of the way, from selecting Dassault Systèmes to configuration, training and support.
Dassault Systèmes is a French developer of PLM, CAD and CAE systems for design, simulation, data management and manufacturing. The company was founded in 1981 as a division of Dassault Aviation. In 2023, its solutions were used by over 370,000 customers across 11 industries, with revenue totalling €5.95 billion. Its shares are traded on Euronext under the ticker symbol DSY. The ecosystem comprises 12 brands on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform:
Unlike Siemens NX and Teamcenter or PTC Creo and Windchill, Dassault Systèmes integrates CAD, PLM, simulation and manufacturing into a single environment. Engineers, process engineers and managers work with a shared data structure rather than disparate files. This approach is used by Boeing, Airbus, BMW, Toyota and Tesla.
The Dassault Systèmes portfolio comprises 12 brands, united by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. CATIA and SOLIDWORKS cover 3D design, SIMULIA handles engineering calculations, DELMIA manages manufacturing, ENOVIA handles data management, and BIOVIA addresses biotechnology tasks. Below, we will examine five key areas of the ecosystem.
CATIA is available as an on-premises V5 version and in the cloud-based V6 / 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA environment. The system supports Class A surface modelling, parametric and generative design, as well as MBSE. It is used in the aerospace, automotive and shipbuilding industries. CATIA is designed for complex geometry and large assemblies, whilst SOLIDWORKS is more commonly used in mechanical engineering and mass production.
SOLIDWORKS is used by over 6 million professionals. The solution combines 3D CAD, Simulation, PDM, CAM, Electrical and Visualise, making it suitable for mechanical engineering, instrument engineering and equipment development. Read more about the product’s capabilities on the SOLIDWORKS – 3D design solutions page. Within the Dassault Systèmes ecosystem, it is often the first step in the transition to 3DEXPERIENCE.
3DEXPERIENCE brings together engineering data, applications and processes within a single PLM environment. The platform supports ENOVIA, collaboration, digital twins and dashboards. Deployment is possible in cloud, on-premise and hybrid formats, including AWS cloud solutions. For example, the system helps to bring together 3 plants and 150 engineers following a migration from SOLIDWORKS PDM.
SIMULIA includes Abaqus for FEA calculations, PowerFLOW for aerodynamics, Tosca for topological optimisation and Isight for multidisciplinary analysis. Integration with CATIA and SOLIDWORKS allows parts to be analysed for strength and aerodynamics without having to re-import the geometry. Virtual testing partially replaces physical prototypes and, in some projects, reduces testing costs by up to 60 per cent.
Dassault Systèmes solutions are suitable for industries where 3D design, calculations, engineering data and manufacturing need to be integrated. The set of tools depends on the product and the organisation’s processes. For example, the aerospace industry requires complex assemblies and virtual testing, whilst the mechanical engineering sector requires the rapid production of models, drawings and specifications. The main industry scenarios are summarised in the table below:
| Industry | Dassault Systèmes Solutions | Examples of tasks |
| Aerospace | CATIA, DELMIA, SIMULIA | Aircraft design, structural analysis, virtual assembly |
| Automotive | CATIA, SIMULIA, 3DEXPERIENCE | Body design, aerodynamics, digital twins |
| Mechanical engineering | SOLIDWORKS, 3DEXPERIENCE | Parts, assemblies, drawings, version control |
| Shipbuilding | CATIA | Hull, systems and complex layout design |
| Electronics | SOLIDWORKS Electrical | Electrical schematics, cable routing, documentation |
| Medical | SOLIDWORKS | Equipment design and documentation management in accordance with ISO 13485 |
| Consumer goods | BIOVIA | Formulation development, composition analysis and laboratory data management |
Real-world case studies demonstrate the industry applicability of these solutions. The Boeing 787 project utilised CATIA, ENOVIA and DELMIA for design, virtual manufacturing and collaboration. The BMW Group selected 3DEXPERIENCE as its engineering platform for 17,000 users and the development of its Virtual Factory.
GEO-MENTOR is a certified Dassault Systèmes partner that supports the implementation of PLM and CAD solutions, from process analysis through to technical support. The work follows a step-by-step approach, so the organisation understands the transition stages and the team’s tasks in advance:
According to the company, GEO-MENTOR is the only team in Ukraine that simultaneously maintains partnerships with Dassault Systèmes, AWS, Google Cloud, Altium and Bentley Systems. Submit an enquiry to discuss your current IT infrastructure, select suitable licences and draw up an implementation plan without disrupting your workflows.