SDRC: Company History and Impact on the CAD/MCAE Industry in the 20th Century

The Structural Dynamics Research Corporation (SDRC) was a mechanical computer-aided engineering (MCAE) company with a focus on technical innovation and training. Originally founded as a consulting firm in 1967, SDRC grew into a half-billion-dollar software company with product and process software solutions in the computer-aided design, product data management, and MCAE markets, including the Integrated Design Engineering Analysis System (I-DEAS) integrated MCAE system and the Teamcenter process system. This article looks at SDRC’s history, from its founding until the acquisition of SDRC by Electronic Data Systems in 2001. Topics includes the company’s vision and leadership; its technology and software; major sales, partnerships, and joint ventures with customers, including General Electric, Boeing, Ford, and Nissan; and an overview of its financial results and profitability.