PI PLMx 2018 – Integration and Collaboration

The last article inspired by presentations and discussions at PI PLMx last week is about integration and collaboration. That was a topic you can practically find in any presentation by vendors and customers at PI PLMx. Historically, integration is one of the most painful aspects of PLM deployment and implementations. It is not a simple thing to connect all systems and processes. Technologies to integration aren’t very much sophisticated. But people are hard. And as it was reminded during the presentation by Prof. Eigner, people are trained and thinking in silos.

Below few pictures I captured during different presentation.

Here is one from Airbus Space speaking about vision of CONNECT – a system integrating digital references, DMU, support knowledge, end-to end processes including the ability to easy find and re-use data.

SAAB presentation introduced us to the concept of transfer, reuse, refine, restructure and approve processes for 30-50 years lifecycle of products.

Presentation by AGCO was put a lot of focus on CM2 workflow across multiple PLM systems integration role of PLM in change management:

Philips integration highlighted the need for full transparency of information to keep track of change and impact

Finally, the slide provided by Prof Eigner was focusing on multi-disciplinary design and role of PLM to improve and streamline processes in organization.

What is my conclusion? Integration is an absolute paramount for most of manufacturing and industrial companies, I’ve been talking at PI PLMx. It is hard, complex and expensive. It requires unique approaches and expensive integration services. This is a real pain for PLM providers and tool developers to move forward and organize integration as a simple and efficient PLM integration process delivery. Just my thoughts..

Best, Oleg

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Disclaimer: I’m co-founder and CEO of OpenBOM developing cloud based bill of materials and inventory management tool for manufacturing companies, hardware startups and supply chain. My opinion can be unintentionally biased.