Quick Definition
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is the management of product records, including bills of materials, specifications, CAD files, revisions and changes, from the initial design and prototype to the end-of-life delivery and service. Product lifecycle management integrates people, business systems, and processes into the core of a product.
What is Product Lifecycle Management?
Product lifecycle management (PLM) refers to the comprehensive approach and set of methodologies employed by organizations to effectively manage the entire lifespan of a product, from its initial conception and development to its eventual end of life. PLM encompasses a wide range of activities and processes that span across multiple functional areas, including product development, supply chain management, and information systems.
At its core, PLM is centered around optimizing the product development process, enabling organizations to efficiently bring new products to market while ensuring quality, minimizing costs, and maximizing customer satisfaction. PLM software, also known as PLM systems or PLM solutions, plays a crucial role in facilitating these objectives by providing a centralized platform for managing product data, workflows, and business processes.
The journey of a product begins with the identification of a market need or opportunity, which initiates the product development phase. PLM encompasses various stages of product design, including computer-aided design (CAD), where engineers and designers create and refine the product's physical and digital representations. Throughout this phase, PLM software acts as a product data management (PDM) tool, enabling effective collaboration, version control, and documentation management.
As the product design evolves, PLM systems maintain a comprehensive bill of materials (BOM), which lists all the components and parts required for manufacturing the product. This integration with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems ensures that supply chain and pricing considerations are accounted for, streamlining the manufacturing process.
PLM solutions facilitate the implementation of standardized workflows and business processes, enabling stakeholders to track the product's progress and make informed decisions at each stage. These workflows govern activities such as engineering change management, validation, project management, and quality management, ensuring that the product meets the required standards and regulatory requirements.
Additionally, PLM embraces the concept of the digital thread, which provides a real-time flow of product information across the organization. This digital thread connects various business systems, such as ERP, CRM (customer relationship management), and MES (manufacturing execution systems), creating a holistic view of the product's lifecycle and enabling better decision-making.
Throughout the product lifecycle, PLM addresses the needs of different stakeholders, including engineers, designers, managers, suppliers, and customers. By fostering collaboration and transparency, PLM enables effective communication and alignment among these stakeholders, leading to improved product quality, reduced time to market, and increased customer satisfaction.
Beyond the product development process, PLM also encompasses end-of-life considerations, such as product retirement, disposal, or potential reuse of components. This ensures that organizations adopt sustainable practices and effectively manage the entire product portfolio.
PLM leverages emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and automation to enhance efficiency and data-driven decision-making. IoT devices embedded within products can provide valuable real-time data on usage, performance, and maintenance, enabling proactive service and support. Automation capabilities within PLM software can streamline repetitive tasks, freeing up resources for more critical activities.
In summary, product lifecycle management (PLM) is an encompassing approach that integrates product development, supply chain management, and information systems to effectively manage a product's lifecycle from ideation to end of life. It utilizes PLM software to streamline processes, enable collaboration, manage product data, and optimize decision-making. PLM aims to enhance time to market, product quality, sustainability, and overall organizational efficiency, benefiting various stakeholders involved in the value chain.
