Eminent speakers lined up on day-1 of PLM Boot Camp

12 Oct '09

7 min read

He says that putting your process before the solution is a myth and needs to be debunked. Processes change and technology offers the guideline for enabling process improvements. Nicholas shared a process map that looked overwhelming and explained that it is a good view of the process but not “street level” and shared a subway map and then down another step to the user level.

The complexity is localized and now more manageable. Nicholas states: “Give users what they need and link them on goal centered task and information flow”. This is a great perspective on how to simplify without losing the detail.

Nick shared all the different ROI methodologies Micro level, Macro level, Short ROI and believes that 5 metrics is a good place to get started and will keep it simple. If you are working on ROI for your PLM project contact Nick to get insights.

So far the speakers all seem aligned. PLM Buyers need to be prepared, educated and knowledgeable about their business but also about managing IT projects. Implementing a PLM system isn't just about installing a piece of software.

It is an enterprise-wide solution that needs resources, training, process rationalization and internal communications. It also needs 100% of your commitment and a clear business case.

“So you are going to buy a PLM solution? How to develop a PLM RFP –get your questions answered before it's too late!” was presented by Mark Harrop, from PDP Ltd, a U.K based consultancy.

With 35 years of experience within the Manufacturing, Retail, Footwear and Apparel industry including involvement in the creation of the first ever PDM system, Mark has a proven record of implementing Apparel PDM/CPM/PLM solutions to over 150+ companies to date.

With a thorough understanding of the abilities of most of the world's leading PLM providers via completed solution benchmarks and work experience, Mark has put his unrivalled expert knowledge into practice, in 2007 when founding PDP Limited and WhichPLM.com.

On the site they share the results of their work compiling the “Mother of all RFI” for RFA PLM. PLM vendors have undergone the benchmarking and the results are on their site at http://www.whichplm.com/plm-suppliers/. Nine vendors have submitted to their rigorous benchmarking.

A total of twenty are promised by next year. If you really want to know the who and the what of PLM Vendors, PDP is a no-nonsense source of the truth- nothing but the truth. Mark in true British form sips bottled water (he assures us) and later tea during his session because after all you can't miss tea time even when discussing PLM!

Our Committee decided that the next session was a must and who better to deliver a session on image management then Dwane Ferry, VP Product Development at e-Spec. In this session titled “Better design with an image management strategy for PLM and beyond”, Dwane who has over 15 years of experience in designing and implementing digital image workflow shares best practices for RFA companies who have image intense business processes.

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