What is SPM (Standard Parts Management)?
SPM (standard parts management is the process of organizing, storing, and reusing common components or parts within product development and manufacturing. These parts, often referred to as “standard components,” are typically non-customized items that can be reused across multiple projects or products.
Examples include bolts, screws, brackets, and other frequently used components. The goal of standard parts management is to streamline the product development process by reducing the time and effort spent on designing or sourcing these parts repeatedly.
The role of standard parts management in digital engineering
Standard parts management ensures that engineers and designers can quickly access and reuse pre-approved parts from a centralized database or platform. This not only saves time but also reduces costs associated with redundant design work and procurement processes.
In PLM systems, this process is typically integrated into broader workflows such as design, procurement, and manufacturing processes. This integration allows for real-time collaboration between teams and ensures that all stakeholders have access to the most up-to-date information about standard parts.
What are the benefits of standard parts management?
Save design time
Quickly find and reuse existing components rather than searching for or redesigning them from scratch. This reduces the time spent on non-value-adding tasks like part searches and allows teams to focus on more critical design work
Improve product quality
Ensure consistency in product quality across different projects. Standard parts have already gone through testing and validation processes, reducing the risk of defects or failures in the final product.
Save costs
Standardizing parts across projects lowers procurement costs by enabling bulk purchasing and reducing the variety of components that need to be sourced. Additionally, fewer unique parts mean lower inventory costs and simplified supply chain management.
Reduce time-to-market
Accelerate product development cycles by removing redundant engineering tasks such as redesigning commonly used components. This leads to faster time-to-market for new products while maintaining high-quality standards.
What's the best way to get started with standard parts management in your organization?
Keep reading to discover our recommended approach to SPDM, or reach out to us for a free consultation today.
Begin by auditing your existing product lines to identify the most commonly used parts. These are often non-customized components, such as fasteners, brackets, or connectors, that can be reused across multiple projects.
This catalog should include detailed information about each part, such as specifications, material properties, supplier details, and cost data. Ensure that this system is easily accessible to all relevant teams (engineers, designers, and procurement staff) so they can quickly find and reuse approved parts.
This integration allows seamless collaboration between departments by ensuring that all stakeholders have real-time access to up-to-date information about standard parts. It also enables engineers and designers to incorporate standard components directly into their designs without switching between systems.
These guidelines should outline criteria for selecting standard components versus custom-designed parts. By setting these rules, you ensure that teams consistently reuse approved components rather than creating new ones unnecessarily, which helps reduce redundancy and costs.
Training should cover how to search for parts in the system, how to integrate them into designs using PLM tools, and when it’s appropriate to request new custom parts if necessary.
Continuously monitor how often standard parts are being reused across different projects. Use analytics tools within the PLM system to track component usage trends and identify areas where further optimization is possible.
Need help with SPM standard parts management?
Matthias Hogberg and team are on-hand to provide tailored guidance and support with a deep knowledge of the full Dassault Systèmes portfolio. Reach out for a free consultation today.
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