For the past 20 years, the smartphone has revolutionized the way we live, work, and communicate. It is an incredibly powerful and expensive device, yet we willingly rely on it for almost everything. It consolidates everything we want—products, people, and information—into one seamless experience.
- It brings us everything we need in terms of products—from shopping to managing digital content.
- It connects us with people, allowing instant communication and collaboration.
- It delivers information—news, updates, and lifecycle events from all over the world.
This makes me think about PLM’s so-called holy grail—the holistic connection of all product information, organizations involved in development, sales, and maintenance, as well as the entire communication process. Much like a modern smartphone, such a PLM system would be incredibly powerful, addictive, and dangerous.
The Power of PLM Connectivity
The data stored in our smartphones—and by extension, in connected cloud storage—is a digital reflection of our lives. It includes everything we do daily, from work documents to personal messages, financial transactions, and social interactions. The same applies to product lifecycle management.
A well-designed PLM system should serve as a single source of truth for product data, unifying information from various departments—engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and customer service. Just as a smartphone integrates all aspects of our digital life, a PLM system must integrate all aspects of product development.
The Danger of PLM Overload
While the smartphone enables incredible efficiency, it also introduces challenges: data overload, security risks, and dependency on specific applications and ecosystems. The same is true for PLM.
- Too much data can create noise rather than insight. Without proper structuring and filtering, PLM can become a data swamp rather than a data engine.
- Security risks are inherent when integrating multiple data sources and systems. A fully connected PLM system must balance openness with cybersecurity.
- Vendor lock-in and inflexibility—just as users are trapped within smartphone ecosystems (Apple, Google), companies can get stuck with rigid, monolithic PLM solutions that fail to adapt to changing needs.
PLM as an App Ecosystem
What makes a smartphone indispensable is not just the hardware but the apps that run on it. Everyone curates their own set of applications based on what they need, whether for work, entertainment, or productivity.
A modern PLM system should work the same way—allowing users to select and configure tools that best suit their product development and business processes. Instead of a monolithic, one-size-fits-all approach, PLM should function as a flexible, composable platform where different teams can integrate the apps and services they need.
What is my conclusion?
PLM as a smartphone for product lifecycle paradigm. Think about PLM as a smartphone helps illustrate its potential—it is powerful, dangerous, and addictive at the same time. A well-implemented PLM system should be:
- A central hub for product data—seamlessly connected and always accessible.
- A network of collaboration—linking teams across engineering, manufacturing, and beyond.
- A flexible ecosystem—where different tools and services can be integrated as needed.
Just as smartphones have become an integral part of our personal lives, PLM systems are poised to become indispensable for companies in the future. However, this integration comes with both opportunities and challenges:
Opportunities:
- Enhanced efficiency and collaboration in product development
- Improved data management and decision-making capabilities
- Increased adaptability to market changes and customer needs
Challenges:
- Ensuring data security and privacy in centralized systems
- Maintaining a balance between technological reliance and human creativity
- Addressing ethical considerations of technology dependence
- Managing implementation hurdles and organizational change
Much like our smartphones reflect our digital identities and social connections, PLM systems will increasingly mirror a company’s innovative capacity and operational efficiency. However, we must remain vigilant about the potential drawbacks:
- Over-reliance on technology can lead to a loss of critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- The addictive nature of comprehensive systems may result in neglecting human relationships
- As with personal technology, there’s a risk of data breaches and privacy violations
To sum up, while future PLM systems will likely become as essential to businesses as smartphones are to individuals, companies must strive for a balanced approach. This involves leveraging the benefits of the technology while maintaining human oversight, fostering creativity, and addressing ethical and security concerns. The key to success will lie in using these systems as powerful tools to augment human capabilities, rather than replace them entirely.
Just my thoughts…
Best, Oleg
Disclaimer: I’m the co-founder and CEO of OpenBOM, a digital-thread platform providing Collaborative Workspace with 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.
