Introduction to PLM
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) ensures that all parties involved have access to the correct product information at any given time. PLM is a prerequisite for success in a world of ever rising demands for efficiency, more complicated products and extended use of outsourcing. Leading technology companies have already introduced PLM, and are incapable of managing without the system. This new technology has made solutions simpler and less expensive, something that allows the system to be spread far wider among smaller companies than ever before.
What does a PLM system do?
It cannot be avoided that PLM is closely related to PDM (Product Data Management) and CAD vaulting, and as the diagram shows there is a gradual transition between these solutions:
Dig. PLM is based on CAD Vaulting and PDM, but covers more processes and involves more players.
Organization of CAD data
For many companies, CAD Vaulting is the first step on the road to PLM. These are solutions that usually accompany the CAD tool and are often limited to handling models and designs from this one system. Extended use of 3D modeling makes organizing CAD information far more demanding than previously since the connection between the many different models and designs must be safeguarded.
Product Data Management
With PDM, focus is expanded to all other documents that are descriptive of the products, such as specifications, calculations and data sheets. In addition, there is the handling of articles and BOM (Bill-of-Material), which allows for connections to enterprise resource planning systems (ERP). A PDM system also contains functionality for workflows, and support for such central processes as approving, revising and managing changes.
Support for the entire lifecycle
A PLM system also has functionality for CAD Vaulting and PDM, but focuses increasingly on the product’s entire lifecycle. This means that players from the entire value chain are involved and that many more disciplines come into contact with the system. Some of the most important areas are:
- General document management
Since the fundamental mechanisms for handling documents are already in place, why not handle all types of documentation, not just product related? Flexible classification, attribute-setup and free text searches make it easier for users to find their own way in very large document archives. Access control, lifecycle and electronic signatures ensure the integrity and quality of the documents. Automatic conversion to PDF and other presentation formats make the information accessible to all categories of users.
- Project management
The development of new products involves complicated projects, many parties and – in particular – large volumes of information. It is a clear advantage to be able to structure and share this information in a secure and efficient manner, even before reaching the design stage. The carrying information structure will then constitute the actual project, with its document folders, activities, milestones and deliveries. When the product begins to materialize, the traditional BOM takes over.
- Requirement management
A major challenge in complicated products can be organizing the requirements for the product’s functionality. For products developed for mass production, this should ideally be managed long before the physical structure of the product is known. Accordingly, much assistance can be gained from being able to structure requirements and functions and relate documents to this structure.
Several functional areas can also be encompassed by a PLM system. For example, product configurations, purchasing, maintenance and tracking of units and individuals. The common feature for all of these areas is that the type of product is irrelevant. There are distinct advantages in having this functionality in one and the same system, rather than having a special solution for each area: Fewer systems to relate to, less administration, lower costs and – in particular – all information is contained in the same database with all interrelations preserved.
Integration
With the expansion to a number of new function areas, needs arise for integration with applications other than CAD and ERP with which PDM systems were traditionally integrated. Now there are increasingly rigorous demands for also integrating with project-management tools, service and maintenance systems, office-support tools, collaborative software and various portal solutions. The amount of systems with which data is to be exchanged means that integration solutions are increasingly based on standardized interfaces and service-oriented architecture.
Dig. In line with globalization, information management is becoming increasingly demanding.
New forms of cooperation and globalization
The emergence of PLM has been driven by changes in the way that goods-producing companies are choosing to organize their operations to meet increasingly intense global competition. The trend has long been that operations are focused on the selected core areas and other parties have responsibility for the remaining disciplines. So far this has mainly been seen in production and in some support functions, yet there is a clear trend toward more knowledge-intensive disciplines such as electronic design and software development being outsourced, often to companies in low-cost countries.
It is evident that this reality sets challenges to the product-development projects. Above all, these are organizational and cultural challenges, but information management has proven to be an entirely different challenge to what we have become accustomed in companies that have all of their operations localized in one place. It has become a mandatory requirement that all product information (be it specifications, 3D models or designs) is available in electronic format regardless of location, and – in particular – that this information be reliable, there is never any doubt as to the components to be used, or which revision of a design that is applicable.
An even more important and challenging factor is handling changes in such an environment. The operator on the factory floor can no longer stroll into the designer’s office and patronizingly shake his head while pointing an experienced finger at the error in the plotted A0 design. The designer can no longer slightly embarrassedly pull a pen from his pocket, and makes a redline change directly on the drawing.
Quicker implementation
Modern PLM solutions have been developed precisely to meet this reality and to manage product information seamlessly and securely across organizations, borders and cultures. The Internet is the information carrier, the browser is the gateway but the actual foundation is a solid PLM platform, where the information has been saved in a structured, secure and accessible manner at any time.
Furthermore, there is a clear trend toward preconfigured solutions, known as “Out-of-the-box,” whereby all definitions and processes are ready for use. Such completed configurations are found in a wide range of varieties and are usually adapted to a specific industry or type of operations. This is involved in making PLM far more accessible for smaller companies, since implementation costs are significantly lower than was previously the case.
Backbone of a company
This and many more factors make today’s PLM solutions very well suited to forming the actual backbone for information management in a modern manufacturing company. Many existing systems can be replaced in a large number of cases, resulting in lower operating expenses, improved control and more efficient information flows. PLM gives product information a place of honor, where it belongs. And it really is about time!