Manufacturers today face constant pressure to deliver products customers want, at the quality they expect, at the speed the market demands. Achieving this requires coordination that stretches across every department in the business. At the same time, new technology is reshaping every industry, forcing leaders to rethink how they operate and how to change for the future.
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) has become central to that transformation. It provides end-to-end product process management, spanning inception, design, quality, manufacturing and service. By orchestrating data across systems and functions, PLM lets manufacturers pursue their critical goals of increasing profit margins, speeding up time-to-market and improving product quality.
In this article, we'll share four PLM strategies you can follow to make your digital transformation more effective.
1 - Enterprise systems as the foundation
Successful digital transformation begins with the right enterprise systems. ERP, CRM and PLM are strategic platforms that manage interrelated data within their domains. Each system enables functionality for the departments it supports while also contributing to cross-departmental collaboration.
For manufacturers, transformation often starts in engineering. Here, CAD models and related data are used to create the digital product definition. PLM strengthens this foundation by pulling in multiple disciplines - including software, electrical, electronics and mechanical - and governing how that data is used. With the right levels of access and governance, information can flow more freely across design, manufacturing and service.
Maintaining product data through the entire development lifecycle is essential to realise the benefits. Companies that focus on data integrity save time and maximise the value of their information.
2 - Connect with the digital thread
The next strategy is creating connectivity between these enterprise systems. This is achieved through the digital thread, linking strategic systems with upstream and downstream data.
The digital thread delivers practical benefits, including:
- A collaboration platform that cuts down on time spent preparing data
- Fewer delays due to manual handovers
- More transparency of changes across functions
- A single access point to enterprise data for all teams
This connectivity accelerates the entire product lifecycle. It makes transformation possible by ensuring information is connected instead of fragmented.
3 - The power of digital twins
A third strategy involves building digital models that reflect real-world counterparts. These ‘digital twins’ can represent products, processes or even entire factories.
Digital twins bring context to the data generated across the lifecycle. Engineers, manufacturers and service teams can view information related to the process they’re working on. When combined with IoT, the power of digital twins expands further. Data from products in the field flows back into engineering, creating a feedback loop to improve design and performance.
Advantages include:
- Fewer engineering changes, as problems can be identified earlier
- Greater digital design capabilities
- Stronger link between physical and digital worlds
- Real-time quality improvements
All in all, that means better outcomes for manufacturers.
4 - Modernising development
The final strategy is modernising how systems are deployed. No two companies are alike, which is why PLM can be delivered on-premises, in the cloud or via hybrid models. What matters is that the system is scalable, upgradable and capable of meeting performance demands.
Supporting infrastructure is equally important. Migration paths, system monitoring and security all play a role in ensuring your enterprise-wide digital initiatives succeed. A flexible and reliable deployment model keeps the business moving forward and able to adapt as needs change.
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For manufacturers, digital transformation is an essential response to customer expectations and competitive pressures. PLM provides the backbone by managing product data, connecting systems, enabling digital twins, and supporting modern deployment strategies.
When companies embrace these four strategies - strengthening enterprise systems, connecting with the digital thread, harnessing digital twins and modernising deployment - they create the conditions for faster time-to-market, lower costs, higher quality and stronger customer outcomes.
To find out more about PTC Windchill PLM software, visit www.concurrent-engineering.co.uk/windchill.