[VIDEO] What vendors are thinking about PLM standards – Aras, Dassault Systemes, Onshape, Oracle PLM, Propel PLM, SAP, Siemens PLM.

There is one topic that always drives discussion in CAD/PLM world. It is a question about data interoperability and standards. It is not a secret that “data locking” was for very long time a known business practice for many CAD and PLM vendors. In my view, the situation is changing, but the question is still very much relevant.

The culmination of PI PLMx conference agenda in Chicago was PLM vendors panel and Q&A session. PLMx succeeded to bring a very representative panel with impressive leads from CAD and PLM companies. The following slide shot can give you an idea who was attending the session:

I like the conversation. It was live and very insightful. My personal favorite question was about PLM standards. I have to tell  you – standards are hard. You can think about standards as toothbrushes. Everyone needs one, but nobody wants and ready to use somebody else standard.

The following video fragments are the answers from PLM vendor panel participants on the question about what they think about future development of PLM standards.

Propel PLM:

Dassault Systemes:

SAP:

Siemens PLM:

Onshape:

Oracle PLM:

Aras PLM

Final words about PLM standards from CIMdata Peter Bilello (watch until the end).

What is my conclusion? For very long time, standards were a very controversial thing in PLM industry. Started long time ago as a topic of CAD interoperability it is still remains a question that drives discussion and disagreement. I think, we are moving into a world, which is connected and much more open than before. But I don’t expect old fashion standard bodies to work in this new world. Cloud, network and demand for intelligence build on top data sources  will redefine meaning of standards and how standards can be defined. Machine learning, crowdsourcing and many other new technologies and approaches will play one of the key roles in future development of network standards. Just my thoughts…

Best, Oleg

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