The devil is in the detail and never more could it be a truism for PLM

For smaller companies, CAD and ERP integrations are often

"nice to have", but not essential.

ROI is more likely via the CAD data and file management, bill of materials configuration, automated change control, and workflow/email notification.

Integrating PLM with CAD/ERP is a much bigger time & cost consuming application. Projects that require custom integrations can be time-consuming and can delay project payback by months or longer.

Less ambitious PDM/PLM implementations rely on simple data exports for loading the ERP BOM tables; your CAD and ERP processes will be no worse than they are now. The benefits from integration will accrue much sooner.

Only after you've extracted all other PLM benefits should you then examine a complete ERP system integration.

PLM Challenge:

• PLM applications are limited in scope & functionality

• Especially vulnerable if faced with a myriad of process & methods to incorporate

• Not intuitive, OOTB/COTS usually requires some additional development

• This means bespoke application code development required

• Once in place forces discipline & control – but requires additional skills/attributes

• Support for users & a skilled support team, perhaps via third party service provider

• If not well managed post implementation can cause more user confusion

• Can have a negative impact on your business causing unnecessary disruption

• Design & development, through to manufacturing can all be impacted


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PLM hopes and ambitions are littered with failures - is there a pattern or common thread to the root causes of these failures - we set out some of the fundamentals based upon our years of involvement on PLM projects.

PLM projects are serious business costing companies huge amounts of time, resource and expenditure.

The risks are high but so are the rewards if the project is managed in a professional and competent way.

PLM Implementation invariably involves some deep diving into product development methods and processes your company is currently using, because PLM related engineering design activity is to at the very least:

• Create complete set of technical documentation for the testing & manufacture

• Servicing & support of a product throughout its lifecycle

• Configuration management to meet product specifications throughout its life

• Traceability & conformance documentation

• Verification of physical characteristics

• Record of testing, manufacture & materials specification

• Record of changes and the control of specification

• Audit trail for product development history

• Documented evidence for the configuration of the product

That is unless you are running a hobby rather than a business in which case you can ask yourself why bother.

However if you are running a business which includes design & production you probably need all the above especially if you are striving to grow your business, & compete in today’s market place.

A successful business will have a management team that is aware of the risks and also the potential rewards.

The management team will also be realistic in their ambitions and expectations from PLM, also importantly the commitment required.


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If you want to succeed with PLM then some fundamental tenants need to be followed. Here at the PLM Innovation Centre we can help you through your the various stages of your PLM project.


Focus on your needs, not the supplier's capabilities.

Make sure that you align your PLM supplier's capabilities to your goals.

With all of the choices available, it's easy to get distracted. But there's not much return on investment (ROI) in buying a CAD file management system if you're mostly looking to accelerate your change process or reduce your bill of materials errors.

Protect yourself from fatal commitments understand if your requirements can be fully met by COTS/OOTB promises from the vendor.

Your decision for investment in PLM should be made with one eye on the future, for example:

A low upfront cost may be essential to get the project funded, but it's the on-going cost of day-to-day operation, user productivity, training, administration, support and maintenance that will determine success in the long run.

Vendor Decisions

PLM vendor decision are challenging & time consuming but once your choice is made it should be made clear by the vendor that once your data is in their database, shifting to another PLM must be possible provided that your PLM license vendor uses a well-known database server (SQL Server, Oracle, DB2, etc.). Alternatively your PLM vendor (Application Service Provider) gives a written & legal guarantee that all data they manage for you can be extracted easily. That they will also demonstrate this capability whenever you request it.

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A view on the PLM challenges, each PLM project is different with varying degrees of focus on a particular part of the business and the drivers for change.


PLM - this well used acronym conjures up many different viewpoints and emotional triggers dependent upon the industry or commercial setting to which it is applied. For me personally it is a methodology which encompasses at the very least the following:

  1. A complete product design process

  2. A complete manufacturing process

So, what is new about that you may be asking, well let’s dig a little deeper.

Today the market place is saturated with PLM vendors offering their own CAD application tools and solutions. Importantly regarding PLM, their own associated data management approach and life cycle management possibilities. For PLM vendors the emphasis is very much on possibilities and a future vision for how their suite of bundled PLM applications can improve a business, especially those companies engaged in design and manufacturing.

I think we all appreciate the challenge is not simply wrapping the PLM applications that are on offer around a two-stage process i.e. design into manufacture without much deeper analysis of the PLM project scope, management expectations and current business processes. This should also include product & project analysis with some form of work breakdown structures which are product orientated.

The managements objectives for PLM could be starting from a complete new or existing design process encompassing a sales order, how it is engineered, through design, testing into production. With other questions arising e. g. is it a standard product, is it a special requirement away from the norm, with further additional design content? Is it a brand-new start up product driven internally by a strategic company objective? Is it a minor or major modification to an existing part? What supply chain involvement will there be? Therefore, understanding how the design process itself operates is critical. What inputs and outputs from within the product development cycle occur, what requires manual input and in what form, via which process.

What simultaneous or concurrent actions occur or at the very least what sequential events and when does a complete PLM manufacturing process need to be considered. A primary management goal as part of the PLM project may be to include the ERP and logistics through to end of life use. As ambitions grow, then so does the risks and challenges. What involvement is there going to be with suppliers in terms of engineering inputs and logistical supply? What are the assembly process steps, are they documented, how are change requests managed pre- & post production? What parts require machining, where is this done on or off site by suppliers? Do they work directly off the 3D CAD models or do they require drawings? What are the drawing standards being used e.g. is GD&T applied. Are the drawings fully associative with the 3D?

We can start with an old term adage which still holds some truth with regard to PLM considerations, “Parts are manufactured, products are assembled. This also leads to understanding the product configurations, including possibility of several BOM structures. Managing product configurations can be complex especially when involving a large variety of electronic and mechanical parts.

None of this is news to PLM vendors after all managing product data is big business with high value investments being made by companies requiring PLM solutions. Although the challenges are great so are the rewards for both customer and PLM vendor. It can of course go terribly wrong; development and implementation periods get extended. Post implementation dis-connects to other business process remain, legacy methods continue and the final results of the PLM project do not bring the ROI expected.

Please remember if you are contemplating a PLM project – PLM vendors sell a core database application with associated CAD applications. They do not provide a turnkey solution for an entire business process which includes all complete product development process, nor the complete manufacturing process.

Returning to the original limited scope of a two-stage process i.e. design into production it becomes apparent that there are many layers of detailed requirements and sub processes, involved. Supported by increasing levels of specialised applications be it CAE, test equipment, prototyping etc. Therefore, PLM vendors cannot provide one single turn key solution, this is never available. This means any PLM project needs to be implemented with a clear and well understood project scope and the implications that go with it.

Some PLM project tips for success

Board approval with a level of participation via a champion

Utilise OOTB functionality as far as possible

Where bespoke software development is necessary understand the reasons why

Any software testing and development – use classic waterfall approach (via the vendor)

Have a clear scope and project plan – with a PLM project manager

The PLM project manager plays a key role and must have full appreciation for:

  • The business processes

  • Life cycle rules for approval and releasing

  • Test and development requirements

  • Gateway approvals during the PLM development and implementation phases

  • Reporting metrics

  • Highlighting issues, shortfalls, technical or resource implications

  • Project risks

Immediately after deployment of the PLM project or a go live situation other factors come into play.

But these should also be part of the original project plan because they impact on any perceived PLM project success. These requirements include:

  • User training and PLM education tailored to individual roles

  • User roles and responsibilities for data access

  • User roles and responsibilities within the life cycle release process

  • Help desk arrangements, SLA agreements internal or external support

  • Any application de-bugging

  • Software and hardware platform, licence arrangements

  • Funds for future maintenance and licensing

  • Levels of data security and access to third party software

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