Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) orientation

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Product lifecycle management is the process of managing product-related design, production and maintenance information. PLM may also serve as the central repository for secondary information, such as vendor application notes, catalogs, customer feedback, marketing plans, archived project schedules, and other information acquired over the product's life.

The PLM process manages:

  • Products and parts, including those which are used for tooling, inspection, calibration, training, operation and maintenance

  • Documents that define the performance, functional and physical attributes of an item.

  • Ancillary documents that are used for training, operation and maintenance of an item

  • Electronic computer files that support the product's design, development, production and subsequent post-production phases

  • Material content, including reporting on legally-proscribed or hazardous substances and the identification of part recycling and disposal methods.

Organizations that adopt PLM report that revenues increase, while per-unit product cost and administrative overhead is reduced.