PLM project objectives

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Understand your project's strategic objectives. That is, answer the basic question: Why do you need a PLM solution?

Your goal is to... PLM can help by... Measure PLM impact by...
Increase product quality Ensuring affected users consistently review product changes; automatically notifying users about new & revised documentation; tracking that obsolete data is promptly removed from production areas; checking that as-built products match approved design and process documentation Monitoring change-related defects; periodically auditing production floor documentation; performing periodic audits of as-built product
Manage increased product complexity Encouraging on-going collaboration and review of product design and process files; providing consistent structure to your bill of material management; enforcing product change review using defined workflow Categorizing reasons for changes (principally those related to failure to meet design requirements)
Reduce product unit costs Encouraging part re-use by easier searches, and thereby increasing purchase volume Tracking reductions in new part numbers that are issued for each new product
Reduce time-to-market Reducing number of items designed through re-use; reducing design iterations via concurrent review; speeding the design release process though automated workflow and notifications Measuring average project development time; monitoring defect frequency immediately after new product launch
Reduce change-related administrative overhead Eliminating manual change processing, and carrying physical change packages from one approver to the next; automating materials declarations for environmental compliance Demonstrating change in staff throughput, such as number of changes processed per unit time; eliminating manual processes such as copying, faxing, shipping, "walking changes through system"
Reduce production rework and inventory scrap Speeding changes through the review and approval cycle; automatically calculating cost impact of changes based on item-by-item disposition expense Monitoring rework and scrap expenses; tracking total cost impact of changes
Improve customer satisfaction and enhance loyalty Executing quickly, consistently and predictably Asking customers and sales staff for feedback
Plug gaps in current business processes Encouraging business process designers and users to seek more efficient methods, and capture these methods in well-defined PLM attributes and workflow Assessing employee satisfaction; eliminating tedious activities
Enhance cooperation with your supply chain partners Encouraging early review of requirements; exchanging design, procurement, production, and service information Tracking rework charges and non-recurring tooling and setup costs