The Friction

CAD is the most efficient way for an OEM to express their needs, and also for a supplier to showcase their capabilities.  However, neither party is willing to exchange their intellectual property until very late in the RFP/RFQ process, resulting in delayed progress.     

The Solution

• CADSEEK transforms CAD into a numerical signature that not only precisely captures complex geometry but is also a form of encryption that has been proven to be non-invertible to shape ... even by iSEEK.  
• The security of signatures allows OEMs and suppliers to match design information without needing to exchange CAD until necessary.  

How it Works

• Suppliers use iSEEK's iBid application to create CADSEEK signatures of the designs they want to advertise to OEMs. Essentially, by showcasing their products, they are also showcasing their capabilities, i.e., these are the kind of parts we are capable of manufacturing. The numerical signatures they create locally are then uploaded to the iSEEKGlobal portal allowing OEMs to search their designs. 

• OEMs use iSEEK's iEstimate application to create a CADSEEK signature of a single design they want to source from a supplier.  Filters can be applied for constraints such as material, tolerance, manufacturing process, surface finish, quantity and delivery timeline. The OEM then uploads the single signature (not CAD) to iSEEKGlobal to initiate a search.   

• What's Exchanged:  Neither the OEM or the supplier see visualizations of each other's designs.  The OEM only knows that a supplier has an existing design that is a match (100%, 97%, 81%, etc.) to the design they uploaded.  The supplier only knows their design has been a match if the OEM requests a quotation or more information.  

• Quotation:  In some cases an OEM may find a design so similar that they are able to incorporate it as is.  In others, the high degree of similarity provides confidence that the supplier has the capability to manufacture the OEM's design. 

Supplier:  In this early stage, the supplier does not know precisely what the OEM wants.  They only know that their design was a good match for a search.  When a supplier is asked to provide a quotation, the supplier is providing the quotation for their part, so they can provide that quotation with high confidence. 

OEM:  When the match is less than 100% the OEM will know the quotation they are receiving is for the supplier's design, which will give the OEM the option of incorporating the supplier's part as is ... or when customization is needed ... the OEM will have the quotation for the supplier's similar design as a basis for expectation for the cost of manufacturing the OEM's actual design, i.e., if this supplier can provide this 92% similar design at $132.16, they should be able to provide my design for a similar price.    

Accuracy:  CADSEEK's accuracy is the key.  Without accuracy, the potential differences in parts would make matches questionable and quotations meaningless.  

The CADSEEK similarity score is also an important enabler, providing the OEM critical feedback of the degree of match.  

Security: CADSEEK signatures have been proven to be non-invertible to shape information, even by iSEEK. The automatic encryption of CADSEEK signatures protects the intellectual property of designs for both the OEM and suppliers.  

Scalability: iSEEK has proven capability to search across many million item databases in under two seconds.  

Anonymity: no contact information is exchanged during the process unless the OEM decides to do so.  

Flexibility: iSEEKGlobal can be used in either an open or private arrangement.  For a private channel, the OEM can create a channel branded in the OEM's name, and populated only by suppliers invited by the OEM.   

Speed: CADSEEK signatures are created, and searches are executed, in just a few seconds.