It is that time of the year again. As we are approaching the end of the year, I like to bring some conclusion remarks and share several key themes have emerged on Beyond PLM, reflecting the dynamic shifts in product lifecycle management, PLM software, product development process, and more broader perspective on manufacturing and business processes software including PLM strategies and modern PLM software trends related to software vendors.
Manufacturing environment today is more complex than ever. It is related to product development process, production process, supply chain management and entire lifecycle. Companies face mounting pressures from global competition, rising costs, and increasingly sophisticated product requirements. Supply chain challenges, exacerbated by regional crises and geopolitical tensions, further complicate operations, forcing manufacturers to rethink how they manage data, processes, and collaboration across teams and borders.
At the same time, we are witnessing the growing maturity of technologies like cloud computing and graph databases, coupled with the rising interest in online services and AI tech (artificial intelligence). These advancements are paving the way for smarter, more connected PLM solutions that empower businesses to adapt and thrive in this challenging environment. Innovation in manufacturing software is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity.
Let me speak about 5 themes that took focus in the discussion and share top articles that have sparked discussions during 2024.
Digital Transformation
Digital transformation remains a central focus, evolving beyond mere digitization to a comprehensive reimagining of product data management and enterprise collaboration. The emphasis is on cloud-native architectures and multi-tenant solutions, enhancing accessibility and scalability for diverse organizations. Here are two articles to give you some key ideas behind digital transformation trend.
Digital Transformation in PLM: Why and How? This article discusses how digital transformation in PLM enables real-time collaboration among cross-functional teams, facilitating seamless sharing of product data and accelerating decision-making processes.
Navigating the Path: Opportunities and Obstacles for PLM in Engineering Digital Transformation. This article explores five opportunities for digital transformation efforts in engineering and manufacturing systems, highlighting the importance of knowledge graphs in PLM.
Digital Thread and Multi-BOM, PLM Data Layers
The core element of every digital thread solution is to manage robust and flexible data model capable to connect multiple systems and data silos. The evolution of the digital thread underscores the integration of multi-BOM strategies and layered PLM data architectures, with the focus on seamless connectivity across engineering, manufacturing, service operations, and other operations. .
Digital Thread, Bill of Materials, and Multi-Tenant Architecture. This article delves into how a robust BOM model serves as the foundation of the digital thread, connecting various aspects of product data management and enabling seamless integration across different lifecycle stages.
From Engineering BOM and Manufacturing BOM to Digital BOM. This piece discusses the future architecture of BOM and Digital Thread, emphasizing the need for multi-view BOMs to connect multiple pieces of information and manage the so-called Digital Web.
Data Modeling in PLM: Graphs Models, Graph DB, and AI
We live in a time of a Cambrian explosion in data management and database technologies. The impact of the new data management and analytic technologies is amazing. From my perspective graph models and graph databases are taking a central stage. The ability of new data models such as graphs and LLM to be used to build a new “process layer” on the top of existing data silos is remarkable. The integration of graph databases and AI is revolutionizing PLM data modeling, offering flexibility and advanced insights compared to traditional SQL-based PLM system architectures.
Evolving PLM Data Modeling: From Data to Product Knowledge Graphs and AI. This article explores how connecting existing PLM systems to modern data architectures, including knowledge graphs and AI, can enrich data models and provide new capabilities for integrating existing data into AI-driven frameworks.
Demystifying Graph Technology in PLM: 3 Levels of Graph Support for PLM Data Architecture. This piece outlines the levels of graph support in PLM data architecture, highlighting how graph technology can enhance data storage, modeling, and the integration of AI capabilities.
PDM vs. PLM: Lifecycle Paradigms and Revision Control
Products are becoming more complex and it is reflected in the need to manage more complex data structures, data sharing, and making up to date information available to everyone in the organization. The central part of the discussion about data and change management is a paradigm shift from existing traditional PDM lifecycle models (file based with check-in/out operations) and modern systems needed to support multi-disciplinary product lifecycle management (PLM) systems to manage mechanical, electronics, and software systems combined with the distributed nature of modern engineering and manufacturing teams.
For the last year, the ongoing discussion between “traditional PDM” and more advanced and modern “PLM services” has gained new perspectives, particularly concerning lifecycle paradigms and revision control mechanisms.
PDM vs. PLM: Top 5 Revision Control and Lifecycle Challenges (and How Modern Platforms Solve Them). This article examines the evolution of revision control and change management paradigms in modern CAD/PDM/PLM platforms, highlighting how they address traditional challenges in the industry.
PDM vs PLM: Current Status Quo, Challenges, and Future Development. This piece delves into the persistent debate over the distinctions and overlaps between PDM and PLM, discussing the challenges and future development paths for both systems.
PLM Business and Strategy
Discussions about focusing on business value and aligning technology to work for your business have been gaining traction. Despite the excitement surrounding technological advancements, people and businesses remain two critical elements in PLM strategy development. A survey by CIMdata revealed that only 19% of companies consider PLM software indispensable.
Strategic discussions continue to emphasize traditional use cases in PLM development. However, there is a growing recognition of the need to shift focus toward business strategies rather than solely prioritizing traditional PLM applications, such as engineering data management, release processes, and configuration control.
Below are a few articles exploring the broader topics related to moving away from traditional monolithic software approaches toward more service-oriented and business-driven strategies.
Agile PLM Business Strategy Manifesto: Choosing Between Monolithic and Service-Oriented Approach. This article emphasizes the importance of aligning PLM strategies with business objectives, discussing the benefits of adopting service-oriented approaches over traditional monolithic systems.
Breaking Free from Monolithic PLM: Building an Agile Strategy with Focused Services. This piece advocates for moving away from monolithic PLM platforms, suggesting that focusing on best-of-breed solutions can provide companies with the flexibility to tailor their PLM strategies to specific business needs.
What is my conclusion?
As 2024 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who joined me this year, sharing your insights, engaging in discussions, and bringing valuable perspectives to the topics on my blog. Your comments, opinions, and unique viewpoints made this journey incredibly rewarding. Without you, this blog would not be possible. You’ve provided me with the energy and motivation to keep these important conversations going.
The articles published on Beyond PLM throughout 2024 reflect a growing collective recognition of the need for transformation in PLM approaches. Embracing innovative technologies and strategies is essential to address the evolving demands of modern manufacturing, and your input has been invaluable in shaping these discussions.
As we head into the holiday season, I wish everyone a relaxing and joyful time with your families and loved ones. May your holidays be filled with peace, and may the New Year bring you happiness and success. I look forward to continuing our discussions in 2025!
Just my thoughts…
Best regards,
Oleg
