What is PLM? – Interview with Adam Bannaghan
Understanding Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) can be confusing, particularly if you’re also considering Product Data Management. What are they? What are the differences? And, how do you know which is the best solution for your business?
Understanding Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) can be confusing, particularly if you’re also considering Product Data Management. What are they? What are the differences? And, how do you know which is the best solution for your business?
In this short interview, our European Technical Director, Adam Bannaghan talks us through these questions and gives us a better understanding of PLM.
What is PLM?
PLM is Product Lifecycle Management, in its purest form, which entails managing the processes required to take a product from its initial inception all the way through to manufacture, production, retirement, and disposal.
What is the difference between PDM and PLM?
Product Data Management (PDM) is traditionally used in the drawing and/or design office and refers to the management of CAD files relating to a particular product. Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) goes beyond this to incorporate all information related to a product, including requirements, design and engineering, manufacturing and logistics, and marketing and sales.
At what point would a business consider PLM over PDM?
- Outgrown traditional PDM
- Going beyond the design and engineering office to drive cross-department and cross-process collaboration throughout the business
How would a company go about implementing PLM?
Reach out to the experts. The Business Transformation team are able to provide an unbias, holistic approach to ensure optimal implementation and deployment.
Are you still unsure which approach is right for your business?
Our team are able to provide an agnostic evaluation, taking into account your business goals and requirements, to help you identify whether PDM or PLM would suit your business best. We are in a unique situation, having both hands-on experiences with each offering and the ability to offer a range of both PDM and PLM solutions.
Please note: We have kept this summary short and sweet, if you would like to learn more about PDM and/or PLM in more depth, please get in touch or browse our other blog articles.
5 PLM Best Practices to Keep in Mind
- Define a clear product roadmap: A product roadmap visually represents the product’s development and goals. It helps organizations understand the direction they want to take with their products and provides a clear plan for getting there.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams: PLM requires collaboration between different departments, including engineering, marketing, and manufacturing. Effective communication and collaboration between these teams help ensure everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals.
- Implement A Robust Data Management System: Practical PLM requires accurate and up-to-date data. A robust data management system can help organizations improve the overall efficiency of their operations. Adopting tools like product lifecycle management software can help organizations automate repetitive tasks and make data-driven decisions.
- Embrace Technology: Technology can help organizations streamline PLM processes, reduce errors, and improve the overall efficiency of their operations. Adopting tools like product lifecycle management software can help organizations automate repetitive tasks and make data-driven decisions.
- Continuously evaluate and improve: PLM is an ongoing process and requires continuous evaluation and improvement. Regularly reviewing procedures, identifying areas for improvement, and making changes can help organizations stay ahead of the competition and improve the quality of their products.
PLM Software: ENOVIA
We’ve discussed what PLM is all about and the best practices to keep in mind when drawing out your roadmap, but you still need a solution to implement and deliver your PLM strategy, this is where ENOVIA comes in.
ENOVIA is a PLM platform, available both on-premise and on the cloud. It can support your entire product development process, from concept to launch, and drive the next generation of lean thinking.
Capabilities of ENOVIA:
- Cross-functional collaboration enables teams to share information and work together to improve quality.
- Central repository for storing and managing product configurations, ensuring all stakeholders have access to the latest and most accurate information.
- Manage and track changes to product designs, improving visibility and reducing risk and mistakes.
- Support compliance with industry standards and regulations, improving the overall quality of products.
- Monitor and control product quality, enabling organizations to identify and resolve quality issues quickly and effectively.
- Centralize management and tracking of the product development process, improving efficiency and effectiveness.
- Improves communication and collaboration between teams, reducing the risk of errors and enhancing product quality.
Get in touch today to see how you could benefit from implementing PLM.
