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So what's with PLM?
Location: Blogs Joel Orr |
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| Posted by: Joel Orr |
8/26/2007 |
PLM - product lifecycle management - has taken on something of a "fightin' words" character. Dassault and Siemens are promoting it wholeheartedly. Autodesk says it's not real. Smaller companies like Arena Solutions are happy to ride the wave, such as it is.
Some years ago, when the abbreviation (it's not an acronym; acronyms are pronounceable) was introduced, there was a lot of buzz in the industry about defining PLM. Nothing was ever resolved, so when someone says "PLM" today, you better ask what exactly they mean.
But PLM is clearly something - even if we don't agree on exactly what.
End-to-end digital representation of engineering and manufacturing data? CAD + PDM + CAM + ERP + TQM + KBE?
As far as I can tell, those resisting the term seem to be saying, "It's too much to go from today's partly-automated, unintegrated manufacturing enterprises to something as comprehensive as PLM. Nobody has really done it. So why not take the smaller steps that are really required, without glorifying the whole process?"
Those promoting the term say, "Why waste time and energy on partial solutions?"
As far as I know, both the proponents and the naysayers are making good money for their shareholders.
But what can we learn from this debate?
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Re: So what's with PLM? |
By Brian K Seitz on
10/9/2007 |
Whether the debait on PLM's definition ever gets settled, the functional need is still there. In the 60s it was a file cabinet that the department manger, secretary or intern kept orderly. In the 70s and 80s as computer technology started being applied to engineering various companies started to manage their engineering data using computers. Rockwell (Engineering Data System) and Lockheed (PDS?) created systems to manager the meta-data about the engineering drawings, specifications, etc. that were created in other systems. Mid-80s while installing and customizing CAD/CAM systems at Rockwell one of my lunch-tinme projects was to create what people call an engineering data repository. It basically stored drawing and models from Computervision CADDS IV and CADAM systems in an IMS Database using the EDS Rockwell had created as an index for storage and retreival. It was basically very primative by today's standards but it got used simply because it was built from an engineering desktop need rather than a corporate efficency perspective.
Today most pushes on PLM focus on managing lifecycle, reuse of engineering models, etc. all in the name of having the corporation capitalize on the previous data created. The only problem with that approach is it neglicts the fact that the person that will be charged with reusing and modifying said data is the engineers that orginally created it. However, the incentive and methodologies that encourage such are not in place, so we basically have a situation of "I'm from corporate and I'm here to help.."
PLM though pushed from the executive suite continues to recieve lukewarm responce in practice because its not been designed as a tool for engineers rather a hungry corporate mouth for an engineer to fill. When a system is developed as an engineering aid you'll see really rapid adoption |
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Re: So what's with PLM? |
By Josh on
10/9/2007 |
Hi Joel, I like your commentary and thoughts. I agree with you. It is something. Fancy acronyms are not going to bridge any gaps between manufacturing and engineering. The only time I’ve seen this work efficiently is when the gap is removed, usually through an inefficient meeting. What I’m learning through this is that engineering keeps going, manufacturing keeps going, regardless of the PR blitz or latest tech buzz. We have to get things done. A web-based portal that linked the two points without the inefficient middle is my solution. No more reliance on email, phone follow-ups, lists, spreadsheets, product review meetings, or document status. The interaction is online trapping every process, growing and refining project and product. Call it a social site for engineering/manufacturing.
josh
www.solidsmack.com |
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Re: So what's with PLM? |
By Joel on
10/11/2007 |
Cool idea, Josh! Are you using a commercial portal, wiki, or what? (While not immediately obviously so, zude.com may be appropriate; check it out.)
Warmly,
Joel |
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