Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

PLM is a strategy for the seamless integration of information within a company that accumulates during the life cycle of a product. A PLM software solution that collects, organises and forwards the relevant product data and processes is suitable for implementation.

The goal of a PLM system is to provide a continuous flow of data and information across all company divisions in order to enable an efficient design of the product in all phases of the life cycle. All data users should have access to the central data source of the company, the comprehensive "data backbone". This results in shorter innovation cycles and the possibility to react faster to market changes. Further advantages are the subsequent rationalisation effects and cost savings through optimised processes.

Prerequisites for use

Technical and organisational prerequisites

Product lifecycle management is based on a holistic management of product data, but in practice there are often a number of different software solutions - an automated exchange of data is therefore often difficult to achieve. Therefore, it is often necessary to start with a comprehensive process analysis and, if necessary, process restructuring. Only by integrating different IT systems can a holistic IT solution be introduced.

Teamwork and appropriate management approach

The introduction and maintenance of a PLM system are the tasks of the entire company - here the responsibility cannot be transferred to a single department. Therefore, the management should be tasked with driving the introduction and maintenance forward, taking individual needs into account.