A PLM initiative is targeted
at systemically improving Engineering Operations (a core competency)
to increase
competitive advantage. The objective being to drive revenue in
to the business and better enable the sales and marketing functions – the
other most important core competency.
A PLM initiative can affect changes to the following processes:
- Proposal Engineering (for ETO products)
- Requirements Management
- Design Engineering
- Design Validation
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Release to Manufacturing
- Serviceability Engineering
- Product Launch
- Integration to Outsource Manufacturer Processes
- Integration
to Preferred Supplier’s Processes
- Integration to Preferred
Customer’s Processes
- Global Sourcing
The reengineering and automation work that is typically conducted
in each of the process activities listed above will drive changes
to the following:
- Policy & Procedure
- Job Descriptions and perhaps Organizational
Structures
- Management & Measurement
Techniques
- Values & Beliefs
- Related Technologies i.e., PDM, CAD,
CAE, KBE, ERP,
- Vendor/Customer Portals,
- Project Management tools and Time
Reporting systems
Now then, the question is which type initiative is best suited
for you; PDM, CPC or PLM? The answer depends upon several key
factors including but not limited to the following:
- Strategic Objectives
- State of the Art in your Product Development
Practice
- Financial Wherewithal
- Your real ability to support the initiative
Many organizations start out with a PDM initiative, move to
CPC in subsequent phases and eventually attack the PLM initiative.
Note: The largest return on investment will be secured through
a PLM initiative. The important thing to remember is that PDM
is a technology initiative, CPC is a technology/process integration
initiative and PLM is a process initiative whose process designs
are better enabled through the use of PDM, CPC, CAD, KBE, ERP
and web based tools.
