For some enterprises that intend to implement or are choosing PLM products, they often get a deeper understanding of PLM products by contacting different suppliers' solutions. But the disadvantage of this method is that different solutions often have different framework ideas and publicity strategies. Understanding PLM based on the performance and functional characteristics of one or several solutions may bring some limitations to the subsequent planning and implementation. If we can get rid of the specific PLM solution and understand the word "management" in product life cycle management from a broader perspective, enterprises will better combine the PLM concept with the actual needs of their own development and formulate a PLM strategy that suits them, instead of being led by software suppliers without understanding.
The traditional definition of management is to achieve a set goal by organizing and using people and other resources. It is generally believed that the goals that PLM can achieve include improving efficiency, reducing costs, shortening time to market and so on. So, how does PLM organize and use people and other resources to achieve these goals? The following aspects will help you further understand the meaning of the word "management" in product life cycle management.
Improve the efficiency of product definition
Before the product is delivered to the customer, the product must be completely defined, and then the product can be transformed from the initial raw materials into the final product that can be delivered. Here, we use the word "definition" instead of "design" because design is only part of the definition. Design in the conventional concept mainly refers to determining the composition of products, including materials, geometric dimensions and corresponding manufacturing processes. This information basically meets the needs of product manufacturing, but from the perspective of the whole product life cycle or from the perspective of customers, this information is actually insufficient. In addition to design data, product definition information should also include product concept information (such as demand description, product creativity, concept description, etc.). Before the design stage, information from the manufacturing stage (such as product configuration, delivery date, manufacturing data for continuous product improvement, etc.). ), as well as customer-oriented information (such as product specifications, product maintenance and service data, product disposal information, etc. ). Faced with such a huge amount of information in different formats, an efficient product definition process is the key for enterprises to enhance their core competitiveness.
Enterprises can improve the efficiency of product definition from two main aspects. The first is to improve the efficiency of generating product definition information. In this regard, PLM tools that can directly improve efficiency, such as computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), computer-aided engineering (CAE), have been widely used. However, it is not enough to improve the efficiency of product definition information generation. In the promotional materials of PLM software suppliers, the following two examples are often used to describe the situation of enterprises before implementing PLM. The first example is that it took the designer an hour to find a drawing that he could redesign in half an hour. The second example is that although the product has been changed within the enterprise, the parts supplier is still producing according to the old design because the designer forgot to send the email of product design change. These phenomena do exist and have certain universality. Therefore, the efficiency of product definition information distribution and enjoyment is as important as its generation efficiency. This demand is more prominent after many enterprises have realized the "drawing board".
Maintain the accuracy of product definition information
The accuracy of product definition information contains two meanings. The first is the integrity of product definition information. For example, two products, A and B, * * * share part C. Due to the change of the market, the designer modified part C to meet the new design requirements of product A. At this time, PLM system should take corresponding measures to ensure the information integrity of product B-notify the designer of product B and mark all the affected parts, and it is forbidden to modify part C before the designer of product B confirms it, or terminate the * * * sharing relationship to generate independent examples of part C for a and B.
Another meaning of the accuracy of product definition information is the validity of time or event. Nowadays, enterprises often produce products with different requirements and different configurations based on one model, and factors from the manufacturing process will also have an impact on the design process (such as changes in raw material prices leading to changes in design). This makes the product definition information closely related to its environmental factors. Different time, order, batch and dynamic information such as market sales, suppliers and inventory may need to change product definition information in time to meet specific needs. I worked in a software developer in China. He was engaged in the promotion of the concept of product data management (PDM) in his early days. At that time, our slogan was "Ensure that product data is consistent, up-to-date and safe". After many years, the author still firmly believes that this feature is one of the cornerstones of PLM.
Promote product collaboration throughout the life cycle.
The general trend of today's market environment is that the life cycle of products is shortening, but the value chain of products is becoming more and more complicated. Now not only the manufacturing process, but also the design, testing and various management functions can be outsourced. This makes the cooperation of all parties in the product value chain particularly important.
Undoubtedly, the efficiency of product definition and the accuracy of definition information mentioned above are the basis for ensuring high-quality product collaboration. In addition, the visibility and interoperability of product information are two other key technologies to promote product collaboration. The reason why product definition information has such a great demand for these two technologies is because the current enterprise operating environment and enterprise information technology application environment are very complicated. On the one hand, it is not uncommon for a large number of PLM tools with different formats to be applied in enterprises, and even for a variety of 3D CAD products to be used in the same enterprise. On the other hand, the architecture of complex management information systems within and between enterprises makes the timely exchange of data a bottleneck in global operations. Simply put, the visibility of product definition information requires all users (whether they belong to the same department, the same enterprise or not, no matter what tools and systems are used) to obtain the same information; The interoperability of product definition information requires users to perform necessary operations on other people's information under reasonable control mechanism. Although PLM can't undertake all intra-enterprise and inter-enterprise collaborative operations, it at least ensures the timeliness and accuracy of master data related to products.
Enhance the sustainability of products
Nowadays, enterprises pay more and more attention to sustainable development. If an enterprise wants to be in an invincible position in the market for a long time, its products (including services) must always be welcomed by users. Product sustainability is based on such a simple truth.
In order to support the sustainability of products, a good PLM system must first be sensitive to history. This means that all product-related information must be traceable to support continuous product improvement. Secondly, a good PLM system must be future-oriented, that is, at the beginning of the product life cycle, the future impact of the product on the environment and the profitability of the enterprise must be considered. Enterprises now generally realize that the earlier suppliers, customers and other partners participate in the product development stage, the more successful the developed products will be.
The above four points are the basic understanding of the word "management" when enterprises consider implementing PLM projects. However, enterprises have their own characteristics. How to treat management accurately and maximize the benefit of PLM application should also proceed from the actual situation and development needs of enterprises. I believe that with the in-depth understanding of PLM, every enterprise will find the definition of product lifecycle management that best meets its own needs.
Reference from IT Business News Network.