Embraer will use PTC software to help manufacture new commercial jets

By Chris Reidy, Globe Staff

PTC said it has a new customer for its product lifecycle management software --- Embraer S.A., a large manufacturer of commercial jets.

According to Needham-based PTC, product lifecycle management, or PLM, helps manufacturers manage complex processes by coordinating the efforts of often far-flung teams to work together and efficiently create the best possible products.

In today’s economy, a company’s designers, suppliers, accountants, and marketing staff can be located in offices all over the world, and PLM gives such companies software collaboration tools designed to help them speed products to market.

Embraer is based in Brazil, but it also has facilities and operations in China, France, Portugal, Singapore, and the United States.

“The complexity of modern aircraft is increasing at a rapid pace – in terms of customer demand, component structure, and supplier networks,” Jim Heppelmann, PTC’s president and chief executive, said in a statement. “Addressing this complexity requires a modern, scalable system that can manage collaboration across a global development process. PTC has deep experience helping aircraft makers accelerate innovation.”

In its press release, PTC said its selection by Embraer is important because it will mark “an important expansion of the company’s business across Latin America.”

PTC’s formal name is Parametric Technology Corp. The company is about to legally change its name to PTC Inc.