A blog by Oleg Shilovitsky
Information & Comments about Engineering and Manufacturing Software

PLM Collaboration, Social Trend and Lotus Notes Memories

PLM Collaboration, Social Trend and Lotus Notes Memories
Oleg
Oleg
1 September, 2010 | 3 min for reading

There are few terms in enterprise software and specifically in engineering software that was completely overused. In my view, collaboration is one of them. Collaborative design, collaborative PDM, collaborative engineering… what else? Vuuch blog about collaboration made me think about some lessons related to the development of systems that aimed to help people to work together. In addition, I found some interesting patterns in the way term “social” used these days.

Collaboration

When I hear people talking about collaboration, I am always asking them to replace the word “collaboration” to “working together”. In my view, it helps them to understand the main reasons and needs. So, you decided to work together? You need to communicate (making phone call, emails, exchange instant messages), share data (documents, 3D models, Bill of materials) and keep track of all these activities (see history of your communications). I can definitely how multiple tools can be used to help me to collaborate… Oops – working together with my colleagues, people in other departments, business partners, etc.

Manufacturing and Collaboration

People in manufacturing organization need to work together… Oops – to collaborate. However, product data and everything related is not as simple as files. CAD, PDM and lately PLM vendors tried to get data under control and manage it in the way that can help people to work together. Engineering and Manufacturing systems never been simple and complication becomes one of the most critical topic in implementation of PDM, PLM and enterprise systems in general.

LotusNotes and SharePoint

I found some interesting parallels in the development  of these tools. The focus of both tools is to share data between people and help them to communicate. With some extreme, I can see Lotus as a very good proof of concept used to develop latest versions of SharePoint. What is clear to me is that both products realized the basic need to share data. People need to share data in order to collaborate more efficiently. User interface (or how it now called UX – user experience) became much better in SharePoint 2007. Microsoft’s wizards learned something from Lotus’ past and earlier SharePoint baby steps. PLM companies are trying to repeat the success of SharePoint by adopting SharePoint practices. I can see some potential in this work. But world is moving faster.  Web 2.0 is coming…  

Drinking The Social Software Kool-Aid?

The next trend is coming – social software. It comes to us out of last 10 years of internet development. Also known as Web 2.0, social software is a cool combination of technologies, web sites and tools that helps people to communicate (they don’t need to work) together.

Blogs, wikis, social networks generated a significant interest of people in enterprise software – can we make PDM, PLM, PxM software as cool as Web 2.0 web sites?

What is my conclusion? Manufacturing enterprise companies are facing an urgent need to work more efficiently. How to work together (to collaborate) becomes one of the most important questions. This is a though one. Companies are run by emails, shared folders and lots of software pieces stitched together. It cost lots of money to companies to keep going. To crack-down a new way to work together by re-using internet technologies and web 2.0 website practices can be kinda cool. Is it possible? Web 2.0 is about pictures, videos, messages. How to make these techniques to work for 3D CAD, Products, Bill of Materials, Suppliers and still keep the same level of coolness? A very interesting question…

Best, Oleg

Recent Posts

Also on BeyondPLM

4 6
25 June, 2010

When you talk to a sales person from one of the PLM companies, you for sure will be exposed to...

13 January, 2011

I made a short note today. Google enhanced the capability of Google Docs with embedding video playback. Navigate your browser...

22 June, 2018

This week was busy for events. At the beginning of the week, I attended LiveWorx. I’m sure you had a...

3 March, 2020

I’m often getting emails with the questions about how to find a lightweight PDM system. PDM is around for more...

22 March, 2020

We are in a huge crisis. This is how the situation that happens outside in the world feels now by...

11 June, 2014

To sell PLM to small and medium enterprise (SME) companies is a challenging tasks. I guess many of my readers...

8 February, 2017

Timing is one of the most interesting and important elements success or failure of any projects. Right technology in a...

15 April, 2011

The first day at COFES 2011 over. I hope, you had a chance to follow COFES 2011 via twitter (COFES2011). If...

19 February, 2012

After posting my last blog multi CAD and PDM- dead lock?, I’ve got quite many emails and calls. It again...

Blogroll

To the top