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From the initial idea to the finished product, its delivery and use, right through to its disposal, a vast amount of data is generated within a company. Without PLM, this data deluge is virtually impossible to manage: data ends up scattered across a wide variety of systems, designated individuals lack access at crucial moments, or outdated information is mistakenly passed down.
This not only leads to dissatisfaction among those involved, but above all to significant losses in quality and increased costs. PLM (product lifecycle management) systems address precisely this issue: They support process design and data organization across the entire value chain, from design and manufacturing to marketing, sales, and service. Therefore, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) can benefit immensely from implementing a PLM system, provided they use and implement it correctly.
PLM strategy: The basis for increased productivity
SMEs are characterized by close and long-standing customer relationships, underpinned by highly individualized and personal service: the customer is king. However, with increasing technological capabilities, customer demands are also constantly rising. To meet these demands, custom-made products are becoming more common – fewer products are mass-produced or can be manufactured “off the catalog.” Consequently, the variety of products and variants is increasing, and with it, the amount of product data that needs to be managed.
What SMEs often lack is the consistent digitization and integration of this product data across different functions and systems. This results in additional costs, including searching, reprocessing, manual transfer, and redundant creation of information.
A well-designed PLM strategy, on the other hand, envisions the automatic conversion of formats between systems – supported by a consistent development process. The logical, product-centric linking and digitized release of data takes place via a central integration platform as a “single source of truth.” Thus, a PLM system also forms the basis for a company’s digital transformation .
The first step towards implementing a PLM system in medium-sized businesses
The first step is to choose the right PLM solution. It should be suitable for the medium-sized business and the specific company. Furthermore, it should also be flexible enough to adapt to future changes and the respective situation.
For PLM implementation, the optimal balance between rapid implementation and a systematic approach is crucial. Referencing generally accepted best practices contributes to a successful PLM implementation.
However, experts warn of two extreme scenarios that occasionally occur in practice:
- The company is implementing the project hastily, without having defined clear goals for the PLM project.
- The company is meticulously developing a future-oriented master plan down to the smallest detail. However, before the concept phase is even finished, the necessary conditions for its implementation have already expired.
To avoid these extreme scenarios, we will present the basic phases of PLM implementation below.
Phases of PLM Implementation
What are the phases of PLM implementation?
- Step 1: The order phase
- Step 2: Preparing for the system change
- Step 3: Requirements management
- Step 4: Implementation of your new PLM system
- Step 5: Insight and optimization
Step 1: The order phase
Before you commit to a contract, you should discuss the goals of your project with your potential PLM partner:
- What do you expect from the introduction of a Product Lifecycle Management System?
- Define KPIs (key performance indicators: How will you determine that the PLM implementation has been successfully completed?
- How could your expectations be exceeded?
You should only sign a contract once you are certain that the other party fully understands your use case within the company.
Step 2: Preparing for the system change
The key to a successful PLM implementation is change management. While a system change leads to increased productivity in the long run, it will usually encounter internal resistance from your employees in the short term.
To ensure early acceptance within your teams, we involve all stakeholders in a timely manner, highlight the opportunities offered by PLM systems, and foster understanding among all parties involved. This way, we guarantee a smooth transition from the old to the new system.
Step 3: Requirements management
Once all current business processes have been identified and analyzed, it’s finally time to prioritize them. These are then reassigned in the new PLM system to achieve your KPIs and business objectives.
During this phase, you can rely completely on your PM partner. You will benefit from our extensive knowledge and experience with our software, which we gain daily working with leading companies worldwide.
With a clear, unambiguous and mutually agreed project plan, you are then ready to move on to the next stage – the roll-out.
Step 4: Implementation of your new PLM system
During the rollout, there’s a lot to consider: hardware and software, processes and procedures, knowledge building and PLM training – and, not to forget: bringing people along. Communication, both internal and external, is crucial to ensure that everyone involved understands what is expected of them and when.
By sharing the new work environment supported by the PLM system, your employees can quickly become accustomed to the new system, which significantly shortens the implementation phase.
Unfortunately, some work interruptions are unavoidable during the system migration. We are doing everything we can to keep these as short as possible and will communicate them to you in advance.
Our training courses are led exclusively by experienced trainers who share their practical experience from client projects. Our proven “Discover, Educate, Empower” training approach is highly valued by participants, as consistently confirmed by surveys.
During the rollout, we continuously monitor performance to ensure you achieve your expected results. You will receive a report from us comparing the actual performance with the agreed-upon goals.
Step 5: Insight and optimization
Once the PLM solution has been successfully implemented, our collaboration does not end. On the contrary: From the very first order, the partnership between your company and TECHNIA deepens.
The ongoing exchange helps to uncover previously undiscovered optimization potential through PLM. While software, hardware, and processes undergo continuous improvements, your day-to-day business continues.
We are happy to assist you if you decide to further expand and optimize your business processes with the PLM system.
How can awareness of PLM be promoted in companies?
Changes in organization and corporate culture represent the first potential hurdles to transforming your PLM business. Therefore, your PLM implementation roadmap should depict an ideal scenario while remaining flexible enough to allow all stakeholders to drive implementation forward through iterative processes.
When embarking on a PLM implementation, it is essential to raise awareness throughout the entire company. All employees should be involved in the implementation. This will allow them to learn about the benefits and how the implementation process will unfold. Equally important is the support of senior management. Many PLM initiatives fail because management isn’t fully committed. Experience shows that it’s advisable for management to announce the PLM implementation to employees in a formal address. This fosters collective acceptance, enabling a shared learning process. The entire company—including all employees – benefits from this.
PLM solutions for SMEs – fast, secure and affordable
For SMEs, there are already tailored PLM solutions available that are precisely aligned with their requirements and business processes. The software takes typical company structures into account and offers a well-thought-out pre-configuration based on a high degree of standardization. This eliminates a complex implementation process – and significantly simplifies the entry into Product Lifecycle Management.
TECHNIA offers a solution that enables medium-sized companies to seamlessly integrate all product data into their processes and systems, thereby actively driving digital transformation.
The advantages at a glance:
- Quick start: The solution is highly standardized and ready to use immediately.
- Predictable costs: Thanks to extensive pre-configuration, costs are transparent and predictable.
- Up-to-dateness and security: The software automatically stays up to date.
- Central data platform: All participants have access to consistent information.
- Efficient data use: Redundancies are avoided, data can be reused.
- Scalability: The solution grows with the requirements and can be expanded as needed.
TECHNIA designed this solution specifically for SMEs – based on years of project experience and proven best practices. Implementation, including training, is completed in just four weeks. After that, the company can get started immediately – faster than some delivery times for a new car.
The underlying technology is based on the modern 3DEXPERIENCE platform , which TECHNIA has customized to offer clearly defined functionality for medium-sized businesses. This means that getting started with PLM requires neither extensive personnel resources nor high investments. The pre-configured solution reduces customization efforts and enables reliable cost planning through fixed prices.
Despite standardization, the solution remains flexible: it is scalable and open to individual extensions – true to the principle of “grow with the system instead of starting from scratch.” This allows companies to gradually develop their PLM environment – all the way to a solution that meets even complex requirements.
With TECHNIA’s PLM solution tailored to SMEs, small and medium-sized enterprises can significantly accelerate their product development and manufacturing . A compact timeframe, transparent costs, and a ready-to-use solution ensure that digitalization doesn’t become a major project – but rather a competitive advantage.
Benefit in the long term from consulting during PLM implementation.
It is not always possible for existing company employees to handle the PLM implementation. In such cases, it is essential to draw on external knowledge and experience.
PLM consultants ensure that all aspects are considered and all possibilities are fully exploited with regard to the objectives. Whether PLM and document management, CAD, or ERP : they are also familiar with related systems and solutions to provide customized advice to the company. In consultation with the client, they develop specific PLM strategies that are highly promising. Because PLM consultants think in terms of user interface, functionality, and customization, they find the best solution for each individual company.
