Ready for openness managing NVH test data

Summary

Siemens partnered with Peak Solution to support  BMW Group in transitioning  from their legacy  test data management system for NVH testing to a more modern, high-performance  and, open solution.  Testlab Data Management - based on the  Peak ODS Server  and the ASAM ODS associated NVH application model - enables access to a centralized,  server-based database, leveraging the full value of annotated test data. The key benefit of the solution is that thanks to the openness granted by the ASAM ODS standard, the customers can work with any data source, regardless of the suppliers, as it helps manage and retrieve this data.

Initial Situation

BMW Group‘s Structural Dynamics department aimed to  replace its proprietary test data management system  with an open, standard-based alternative  to gain independence from specific suppliers. The outdated database solution presented various challenges, necessitating a more modern solution. The Simcenter Testlab Data Management solution, based on the  Peak ODS Server, offered the centralized, open-standard database access BMW Group desired. Additionally, they sought a more efficient solution with robust search and advanced data annotation capabilities. The Simcenter Testlab Data Management solution met all these criteria, offering standardization, openness, and supplier independence.

Success strategy / solution

The tight integration of the Simcenter Testlab Data Management solution into the engineering tool of Simcenter Testlab is the first key factor of an industrialized solution. The Simcenter Testlab Data Management solution is based on the Peak ODS Server, leveraging the ASAM ODS NVH application model standards for data annotation and management. Siemens and Peak Solution closely worked together to implement extensions to Siemens‘ standard test data management solution, managing to fully meet BMW Group‘s data management requirements.

The extensibility of the ASAM ODS standard allowed Peak Solution and Siemens to implement a background process that  integrates data from different vendors into  a single structured  database - without modifying the original data.  Enrichment with metadata labels ensures compatibility with Simcenter Testlab and enables seamless reuse within engineering workflows.

Further enhancements included advanced permission management. These extensions support fine-grained access control for users and groups, tailored to BMW Group’s organizational complexity.

The result: A future-ready, open, and secure solution - made possible through the close partnership between Siemens and Peak Solution.

Challenges during the project

The migration from BMW Group‘s proprietary database to the ASAM ODS database presented the biggest challenge of all. Due to huge complexities in data annotation in the old data management solution, a data conversion process was implemented to ensure consistency throughout the entire dataset.

To simplify the transition, Siemens  developed tools such as data overviews to understand the scope of the data migration, and mapping tables to help BMW Group adjust the database for a 100% consistent outcome. Successful results were achieved through top-down support, tireless collaboration with BMW Group, and with a focus on implementing the desired BMW Group data annotation.

The implementation of the Simcenter Testlab data management solution yielded significant business benefits. These include time savings when searching for and comparing historical data, increased flexibility thanks to the openness of the ASAM ODS standard, and improved project quality.

By capitalizing on the value of NVH data, the solution paved the way for strategic process improvements and future technology integration, such as machine learning and virtual prototype assembly.

Connected solutions

Peak Test Data Manager is a test data management system based on dedicated solution components. Click on the links to get more information about the individual components.