Strategic sourcing, procurement drive PLM functionality; Dassault partnership pushes out digital product data
By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 9/6/2007 3:30:00 PM
The product life-cycle management (PLM) market is growing rapidly as manufacturers look to improve their product-oriented processes. New functionality, market consolidation, and a huge opportunity for vendors are considered elements of what makes the PLM industry such an entrancing market.
A report from Datamonitor looks at how product life-cycle management (PLM) technology is gaining new functionality, and what Datamonitor researchers believe will be the next big thing. The report offers an analysis of the recent developments in the PLM market in terms of acquisitions and targeting midmarket customers, and sizes up the revenue opportunity for PLM software licenses in key regions and manufacturing industries.
Analysis excerpts:
· PLM technology is evolving as manufacturers demand more functionality.
· Supplier relationship management processes are becoming an integral part of PLM solutions.
· More support for outsourcing continues to be demanded by manufacturers.
· PLM vendors are looking to provide support for outsourced product development.
· Managing contract manufacturers is a feature that continues to emerge in PLM technology.
· Integration with manufacturing execution systems allows manufacturers to bridge the "enterprise-to-plant-floor" divide
· Technical documentation has potential, but needs to extend itself more.
· Visualization needs to be carefully developed before being offered to external parties.
· To reduce time-to-market, digital manufacturing solutions are emerging.
· PLM industry dynamics continue to shift as go-to-market strategies alter.
· More consolidation is predicted as the global PLM market continues to grow.
Next-gen 3D documentation
Product life-cycle management (PLM) solutions specialist Dassault Systèmes is partnering with Seemage, a 3D content solutions vendor, to enable a seamless link between product documentation and PLM product-related data. The integration eliminates all disparities between product-related IP and any required product documentation, such as animations, graphics and illustrations for training, maintenance manuals and service procedures.
Working together, the companies will permit the exploitation of 3D as a universal media.
“Seemage joining the CAA program is noteworthy for CATIA users,” says Patrice Bélanger, PLM business process manager, Bombardier Aerospace. “To be competitive today, we have to eliminate rework and delays in the production of service procedures and product documentation. But to automate these critical processes we need increased integration between Seemage and Dassault Systèmes’ solutions. We look forward to implementing the results of this partnership to help us address these business challenges.”
