Recent debate on Tech4PD brought back one of my favorite topics in PLM – data vs. process. The topic isn’t new, but it is not diminishing the importance. I found first appearance of my debates with Jim going to back in 2009. Navigate to the following link and read my old blog – PDM vs. PLM: Is it about the process? Another perspective on data vs. process in PLM was presented in my blog post – PLM: controversy about process vs. data managemen. The last one was inspired by Bell Helicopter presentation made during Dassault Customer Conference back in 2011.
Take a moment of time and watch the debate. I gave my vote to Jim. I like his broad perspective on setting organization on the right path with their working procedures. Jim also “packaged” his process opinion together with “file management”, which made me assume that engineers will be able to identify right versions of a specific file/design. What made me feel sad a bit with regards to Chad’s position is his wiliness to focus on how to control all data in PLM – something I have hard time to believe as needed and even possible. To me PLM cannot control all data, but should rely on technologies to make data available for decision (and not only) processes.
The debate made me think about why Data vs. Process is probably a wrong dilemma in the context of PLM. In my view, the right focus should be on “lifecycle” as a core value proposition of PLM and ability of PLM to support product development. In a nutshell, product development is about how to move product definition (in a broad sense of this word) from initial requirements and design to engineering and manufacturing. If I go future, next stages of product definition will be related to maintenance and disposal. To define what represent product on every stage together with what is required to move product from one stage to another is a core value of product lifecycle and PLM.
What is my conclusion? After many years of debates about data vs. processes, I think time came to get to the next mature level of understanding how to get PLM work for companies. The focus on product definition for every stage of product lifecycle bundled together with procedures or requirements needed in order to move between stages can be a new way to define what PLM is about. Just my thoughts…
Best, Oleg
Disclaimer: I’m the co-founder and CEO of OpenBOM, a digital-thread platform providing cloud-native collaborative services including PDM, PLM, and ERP capabilities. With extensive experience in federated CAD-PDM and PLM architecture, I’m advocates for agile, open product models and cloud technologies in manufacturing. My opinion can be unintentionally biased
