Issue in Focus: Enabling Mobile PLM – IT Considerations for Leveraging Mobility to Extend PLM Value points out some very practical considerations that IT leaders must take into account when taking PLM mobile. The rise of tablets like the iPad offers an opportunity to further PLM value by reducing barriers to innovation, decision-making, program management, and contribution to product development by extending applications to employees while they are away from the office. It also offers the potential to share critical manufacturing or service data to those in challenging locations such as the plant or in the field. See what the CIO should know about implementing and supporting mobile applications for PLM.
Please enjoy the Executive Summary below, or click the report title above to download a PDF that overviews the report (free of charge, no registration required). For the full report, visit the Siemens PLM website (free of charge, registration required).
Table of Contents
- Introducing the Issue
- Leveraging Existing PLM Infrastructure
- Device Considerations
- Business Process Considerations
- Application Considerations
- People Considerations
- Management Considerations
- Conclusion
- Recommendations
- About the Author
Introducing the Issue
Many leading manufacturers have invested in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) to improve the way they innovate, design, develop, and manage their products. These solutions help manufacturers improve their products, processes, and ultimately their profitability. The rise of tablets like the iPad offers an opportunity to further PLM value by reducing barriers to innovation, decision-making, program management, and contribution to product development by extending applications to employees while they are away from the office. It also offers the potential to share critical manufacturing or service data to those in challenging locations such as the plant or in the field.
Tech-Clarity’s PLM Goes Mobile and Program Management Goes Mobile provide examples of how PLM-related processes can be improved by mobility, including:
- Analyzing and executing engineering changes
- Providing interactive, 3D manufacturing and service instructions
- Managing program status, issues, resources, and tasks
- Approving deliverables and signing off on stage-gate reviews
These scenarios provide tangible examples of how mobility can extend the value of PLM. The reports also detail common benefits manufacturers gain from PLM and identify how that value is extended by mobile applications. The reports conclude that “Mobile devices like the iPad have set the stage to extend the opportunity for engineers and others in the product lifecycle to contribute, decide, act, and innovate with PLM.”
Mobile PLM is compelling to business leaders. For IT leaders, there are some very practical considerations to take into account when taking PLM mobile, including:
- Leveraging existing PLM infrastructure
- Device considerations
- Application considerations
- Process considerations
- People considerations
- Management considerations