Processes Lead, Tools Follow
We have special expertise in helping companies get the most out of a PLM tool, even when one hasn't been selected yet.
Product lifecycle management (PLM) tools have the potential to improve the management of the entire lifecycle of products, from the time they’re conceived until they are retired. These tools have powerful capabilities, and it’s tempting to think that simply acquiring and installing one will handle nearly everything. Care must be taken to not be deceived by that kind of thinking.
PLM tools are just that: tools. They are exceptionally good at automating, ordering, organizing, and reporting data, and doing so very quickly and at scale. This fact can camouflage the pitfall that is perhaps that most common when implementing PLM tools, they are process agnostic.
As tools, PLM systems don't inherently recognize whether the existing processes they integrate with are effective or flawed. If these processes generate poor-quality data, PLM tools will simply automate the production of that poor data, often at a faster rate than before. They might present the data more attractively with charts, graphs, and dashboards, but this doesn't change the underlying issues. Consequently, manual adjustments or expert interpretation will still be necessary to derive meaningful insights.
IpX views Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools as vital components of overall business processes. Rather than treating them as standalone solutions, IpX integrates these tools into the broader enterprise system. This approach allows the organization to fully leverage the capabilities of PLM tools. During investigation and implementation, IpX collaborates with the entire business to ensure that the PLM tools are seamlessly aligned with the company's processes, resulting in successful outcomes.
Processes Lead, Tools Follow.
The first step in a successful PLM deployment is a thorough assessment to identify current practices, gaps, strengths, and opportunities within both documented procedures and the practical knowledge of those who understand "how things really get done." IpX will also evaluate the current state of operations, system utilization, and resource allocation. This comprehensive assessment will reveal necessary actions, leading to data-driven recommendations for improvement.
With a data-driven understanding of what needs to be accomplished in place, IpX works collaboratively with your enterprise to get things done.
Process Definition and Functional Requirements Generation
IpX collaborates with your organization to develop functional requirements and business use cases that will guide the selection and implementation of the PLM tool. Careful consideration is given to the IT environment, including integrations with other tools and factors specific to your enterprise.
Due to our tool certification experience, IpX experts have a deep understanding of tool development, enabling them to create robust and achievable requirements. Even out-of-the-box tools require configuration, which is accomplished through well-defined requirements and processes.
The IpX approach to evaluating and selecting PLM Tools and System Integration providers is anchored in a structured and objective process that filters out personal opinions and provider bias. We weigh factors such as initial discovery, user and PLM provider reviews, overall responses and thoroughness to the provided business scenario, live demonstration results and detailed analysis, proposed deployment support team, overall leadership commitment to client, and the business process acumen of the solution integrator resources.
Selecting PLM tools is a critical milestone in the implementation process, but it is not the final step. While System Integrators excel at installing and configuring PLM tools, IpX enhances this process with in-depth knowledge of your enterprise, its personnel, systems, processes, and data. We ensure this knowledge is effectively applied during implementation by collaborating closely with you and your chosen system integrator. As a tool-agnostic partner, IpX seamlessly integrates with your business, ensuring that your specific needs and goals are met through requirements-led development, testing, and deployment.
Master Data Management (MDM) is the cornerstone of enterprise information management, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and accountability in the data businesses rely on for critical decision-making. MDM streamlines data sharing among personnel and departments, enhancing operational efficiency, facilitating compliance, and driving innovation. By providing a single, authoritative view of data entities across tools like PLM, ERP, MES, RMS, and CPQ, MDM empowers organizations to eliminate costly redundancies and avoid the pitfalls of data silos.
The client initially preferred a Teamcenter PLM solution with a top-tier integrator but wanted to validate their choice. IpX utilized 6-Sigma methodologies alongside CM2 best practices to assess the organization's current state, identify gaps, define future processes, and create a detailed requirements framework for a quantitative PLM evaluation.
Through IpX's comprehensive requirements gathering process, a quantitative evaluation of Teamcenter and two other leading software options was conducted with an objective perspective. Adopting a tool-agnostic approach and leveraging cross-industry expertise, IpX successfully negotiated the total implementation cost down by 70%, matching the lowest quoted price.
This client consistently relied on IpX expertise in a consultative role during the configuration and launch of their PLM tool for advice of lower level requirements including process details, attributes, roles, project setup and metadata. IpX developed detailed step by step procedures that covered both client's specific process and tool configuration, proving far more effective than the standard out-of-the-box training. Additionally, IpX experts crafted comprehensive training materials and implemented a train-the-trainer approach, empowering the client’s organization to become confident and self-sufficient.
Remember, we assist companies in assessing and selecting the best PLM tools for their enterprise and then partner with them to ensure successful implementation. Contact us today, and let us help you write your PLM success story.
