Innovation Meets Compliance
PLM Strategy
 

PLM Strategies

PLM StrategyAs a company grows in complexity and the number of collaborators increases, (including external entities such as suppliers) it is essential to consider how the information and processes flow within the product lifecycle.

Typically we observe that many companies have purchased hundreds and sometimes thousands of technologies to support the various aspects of the product lifecycle in a highly reactive way.

Regrettably, this approach leaves companies at risk for audit findings (for regulated industries this is a major concern), quality issues, efficiency problems, increased operational costs and other challenges.

Other companies have implemented product lifecycle management strategies but are not getting the results they expect. This can happen for a variety of reasons:

  • Limited set of functionality
  • Started with the wrong process areas
  • Emphasized technology without adequately considering people or processes
  • Lacked the right governance approach and executive oversight
  • Many others

The promise of PLM is really exciting and we have witnessed and been a part of many excellent solutions that have delivered amazing business results. But not all PLM projects turn out that way.

If you already know where your pain points are, and especially if those are in the more foundational areas of PLM, then a strategy may not be needed just yet.

PLM Strategy However, you may need a PLM strategy if:

  • You are struggling to know where to start
  • You have implemented PLM but haven’t achieved the desired results
  • You have implemented some foundational pieces, but want it to do more
  • Having difficulty getting organizational buy in to PLM automation

Integware can define a comprehensive approach to optimizing the automation strategy for all aspects of the product lifecycle while minimizing the number of tools involved and simultaneously improve the interoperability of business processes.

To do this we offer a PLM Strategy Service which helps companies plan for the automation of the product lifecycle. Integware helps prioritize the process of automation using our Six Sigma PLM Process Excellence™ tool.

Integware performs highly custom strategies (often needed for bigger and more complex organizations) as well as smaller and more prescribed quick strategies for smaller and less complex organizations. Additionally, we can define an automation approach that best fits the organization’s budgetary constraints.

By following Integware’s methodology we can:

PLM Strategy Path

  • Characterize the product lifecycle (leveraging other activities like our PLM Discovery Workshop if performed)
  • Review existing (incumbent) technologies and the value or non-value they provide
  • Convert business processes into a set of automation initiatives
  • Prioritize the initiatives from top-to-bottom using our PLM Process Excellence™ Tool
  • Group initiatives into a phased roadmap, considering automation and divisional rollout dependencies
  • Assess the business value/return on investment for automation
  • Works with the business to gain organizational buy in
  • Develop a detailed roadmap for automation

Throughout the strategy, Integware works closely with an executive sponsor and subject matter experts to provide interim reports.

The strategy service can be performed independently or can be accelerated by leveraging the results from our PLM Discovery Workshop services.