A PLM system is a powerful solution that manages every aspect of a product’s life from start to finish. An enterprise PLM system can integrate data, workflows, business systems and people with internal and external collaboration tools.

Product lifecycle management systems can help you gain greater visibility and control over the design process. This article discusses the top solutions, a product’s lifecycle, benefits, key features and more.

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What This Article Covers

• Best PLM Systems
  • Teamcenter
  • Windchill
  • SAP PLM
  • Enovia
  • Aras
• A Product’s Lifecycle
• Top Benefits
• Key Features
• Usage by Sector
• Limitations
• Notable Trends
• Next Steps

Best PLM Systems

We’ve compiled a list of the top-leading product lifecycle management systems, including benefits, features and more.

Teamcenter

This product lifecycle management system lets you diminish, copy and resolve operations with centralized features and functions for company-wide transparency. It offers cloud and on-premise deployment options.

An example of Teamcenter. Source

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Reporting – 100
• Program Planning and Project Management – 100
• Design Management – 100
• Document Management – 100
• Requirements Management – 99

Top Benefits

• Make Well-Informed Choices: Manage and review part changes during a product’s lifecycle. This tool governs and diminishes repetitive processes while keeping everyone in the loop.
• Reduce Compliance Violations: Administer numerous compliances and regulations throughout several regions effortlessly. It can also help decrease an organization’s environmental footprint.
• Boost Company-Wide Visibility: Evaluate associated information from several sources via tailored dashboards and chart modules. Review comments and alterations to design drafts.
• Receive Up-To-Date Changes: Use this system for cloud deployment to obtain better accessibility and real-time updates from virtually anywhere. Manage on-premise deployment for smaller companies.
• Centralize Product Components: Supervise all project aspects, such as milestones, duties, stage gates and more, in one centralized system. This centralization diminishes time and increases productivity.

Primary Features

• Reporting: Manage BOMs, custom and requirement files in one place. Share reports with internal and external partners for improved collaboration.
• Program Planning and Project Management: Make plans against goals and requirements. Manage equipped templates and superintend stage gates, achievements, duties and more.
• Design Management: Evaluate outcomes across numerous product iterations. Perform automatic or recurring simulation protocols for better testing purposes.
• Document Management: Manage this product lifecycle management system to arrange documents by numbers, types, parts, versions and more. Conduct file collaborations and markups.
• Requirements Management: Perform impact analyses for requirement alterations. Transfer data from several sources, such as Word documents, PDFs, data exchange files and more.

Limitations

• Slow loading times.
• Slow data migrations.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Conformity Analysis Between eBoM and mBoM — Not Supported
• Mobile Optimized Platform — Not Supported
• Create and Edit Product Recipe Formulas — Not Supported
• Create Different Versions of a Recipe — Not Supported
• Manage Approval Process for Internal Teams and External Supply Chain Partners — Moderately Supported Out of the Box

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Windchill

This product lifecycle management system offers several capabilities to maximize production. Windchill’s automation and augmented reality (AR) tools strengthen product concept transparency and catch real-time CAD information for effective tracking.

A preview of Windchill.

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Change Management – 100
• Program Planning and Project Management – 100
• BOM Management – 99
• Quality and Compliance Management – 96
• Requirements Management – 97

Top Benefits

• Increase Design Transparency: Merge this system with other tools, including Vuforia. Review designs in realistic environments to stay informed of product and design aspects, keeping you in the loop about the newest features.
• Boost Workflow Visibility: Supervise products across every stage of the PLM cycle. Check quality standards and feature changes regularly.
• Improve Efficiency: Centralize data and keep everyone in the loop while diminishing search times. This consolidation provides more time to complete other assignments quickly.
• Save Money: Create product variants efficiently to reduce physical prototypes and other unnecessary fees. Automation also saves on costly human errors.
• Reduce Time on Recurring Tasks: Renovate content and users as modules change to maintain steady data allocation and authenticity with automation.

Primary Features

• Change Management: Supervise impacted data, users and operation scopes. Superintend approval protocols for internal teams and external supply chain partners.
• Program Planning and Project Management: Monitor projects and processes with project trees, work breakdown structures and more. Perform real-time project deliverable tracking.
• BOM Management: Establish BOM usage and govern engineer-to-order (ETO) practices. Review features that you can reuse as new products.
• Quality and Compliance Management: Perform automatic supplier declaration processes. Specify required quality actions for merchandise.
• Requirements Management: Use this product lifecycle management system to maintain designs, safety, environmental, tests and more specifications. Use requirement verifications and validations.

Limitations

• Has a steep learning curve.
• Difficult to customize.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Artwork Design and Proofing — Not Supported
• Create and Edit Equipment Requirements — Not Supported
• Manage Trials or Tests Associated with Recipes — Not Supported
• Trace Compound Material Formulation and Corresponding Machine Parameters— Not Supported
• Link Design Inputs with Design Outputs — Moderately Supported Out of the Box

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SAP PLM

This PLM system offers portfolio, project management and costing applications for a smooth product monitoring experience. It’s available for cloud and on-premise deployments and serves mid-sized and large companies.

An example of SAP PLM.

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Change Management – 100
• Document Management – 100
• Program Planning and Project Management – 100
• Recipe Management – 98
• Quality and Compliance Management – 98

Top Benefits

• Enhance Productivity: Gain product manufacturing, quotes and associated costs to strengthen job productivity. More efficiency means more profits.
• Make Well-Informed Estimates: Review and estimate project costs in the preliminary stages, helping you determine worthwhile ideas from mediocre ones. Save time and money on valuable products.
• Expedite Market Arrival Times: Leverage collaboration tools to simplify operations and boost project research and evolution, leading to faster market times. More teamwork means everyone stays on the same page.
• Centralize Data: Quickly supervise project progress, insights and cost efficiency across several locations via one centralized solution. This merge boosts convenience.
• Set and Attain Realistic Goals: Manage and align protocols and tasks with company regulations and goals for superb project accomplishments. You can develop and meet practical pinnacles.

Primary Features

• Change Management: Access and use tailored workflow templates. Assess all changes and determine timestamps, who made the revisions and why these edits exist.
• Document Management: Fuse several similar files into different classifications. Copy, edit and draft new document versions.
• Program Planning and Project Management: Use equipped templates, customizable stage gates and tasks to streamline project management responsibilities. Use Gantt charts, status roll-ups and more to maintain projects and products.
• Recipe Management: Develop multiple label sets. Govern recipes and trials for optimal results.
• Quality and Compliance Management: Track and follow assets. Guarantee compliance adherence by recording quality protocols, such as Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA), Non-Conformance Material Reports (NCMRs) and more.

Limitations

• Lacks a user-friendly interface.
• Lacks effective training materials.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Auto-Generate BOM — Not Supported
• Conformity Analysis Between eBoM and mBoM — Not Supported
• Electrical CAD Management — Supported with Additional Modules
• Identity Product Issues — Moderately Supported Out of the Box
• Self-Service Supplier Portal — Supported with Additional Modules

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Enovia

Enovia offers several enterprise PLM tools required for product designs and simulations. It serves businesses of all sizes and is cloud-based. Some of its features include quality and compliance management and reporting.

A preview of Enovia. Source

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Program Planning and Project Management — 100
• Quality and Compliance Management — 100
• Reporting — 100
• Document Management — 97
• Requirements Management — 97

Top Benefits

• Develop Realistic Product Expectations: Implement several modules to ensure product designs and prototypes meet or exceed requirements. Verify that products meet realistic expectations to avoid exhausting resources.
• Perform Real-Time Product Creations: Gain immediate data on project duties, bottlenecks and other tasks to implement quicker resolutions. Real-time visibility enables you to keep up with processes as they occur.
• Centralize Sharing and Changes: Superintend assignments and standard tools for streamlined protocols, enhanced visibility and simplified team communication. Exchange product information with teammates in one place.
• Diminish Fees: Bridge item specifications, designs and launches to reduce development and other expenses.
• Strengthen Decision-Making: Access compliances and supplier report statuses for educated choices.

Primary Features

• Program Planning and Project Management: Superintend events, requirements and other product parameters. Work with other project elements, including tasks, achievements and more.
• Quality and Compliance Management: Ensure products and practices align with ISO standards for monitored change management practices. Assess part and component maintenance.
• Reporting: Develop and perform cross-department sharing for smoother collaboration methods. Craft custom files to meet your company’s needs and business attributes like logos and colors.
• Document Management: Draft numerous recipe versions for better testing. Construct and alter product algorithms to understand what works best.
• Requirements Management: Apply product alterations to requirement lists. Link all product definition requirements aspects, such as specifications, other requirements, Bill of Materials, 1D and 3D models, manufacturing processes and more.

Limitations

• Sluggish interface and uploading times.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Conformity Analysis Between eBoM and mBoM — Not Supported
• Manage Engineering Change Notice (ECN) — Not Supported
• Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) Simulation Management — Supported With Additional Modules
• Execute Automated and Repeatable Simulation Processes — Supported With Additional Modules
• Mark up Files From Within Programs Like Microsoft Office or Adobe PDF — Not Supported

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Aras

Lastly, this product lifecycle management system controls every lifecycle stage from beginning to end. It’s available for on-premise and cloud deployments and is suitable for companies of all sizes.

An example of Aras. Source

Highest Rated Modules According to Our Data

• Change Management – 100
• Document Management – 100
• Reporting – 100
• Program Planning and Project Management – 98
• Quality and Compliance Management – 97

Top Benefits

• Receive Complete Control: Monitor every stage of a product’s lifecycle from the cradle to the grave. Manage every aspect to increase product quality and on-time deliveries.
• Manage Adaptability: Alter system practices to align with company policies and goals.
• Reduce Bottlenecks: Access real-time merchandise specifications regularly for faster communications and enhanced productivity.
• Strengthen Cross-Team Collaboration: Trace and administer revisions while simultaneously maintaining product statuses.
• Centralize Product Details: Superintend product events, criteria, budgets and more in one PLM system to save time, make better choices and expedite productivity.

Primary Features

• Change Management: Conduct ECN management. Govern approval procedures for internal and external supply chain colleagues.
• Document Management: Perform file markups and team collaboration for better communication. Search for files with specific filters like type, version, number and more.
• Reporting: Share customizable reports across internal and external team members and stakeholders.
• Program Planning and Project Management: Use real-time tracking for redeemable project components.
• Quality and Compliance Management: Supervise product part performance in real time. Detect and resolve risks with effective planning tools.

Limitations

• Experiences occasional glitches.

Features Not Fully Supported According to Our Data

• Conformity Analysis Between eBoM and mBoM — Not Supported
• Graphical Status Update and Auto Part-Name Generation — Not Supported
• Virtual Reality for Virtual Prototyping — Supported with Partner Integrations
• Custom Fields — Supported with Custom Development
• Multi-Currency — Not Supported

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A Product’s Lifecycle

A product’s lifecycle changes from company to company, but these four steps are universal in monitoring a product’s complete lifecycle:

1. Introduction: Designers plan and develop product blueprints and simulations to test how it works under numerous conditions.
2. Growth: After multiple tests and meeting compliances, executives determine availability, how much they want to sell and marketing strategies.
3. Maturity: Products are distributed to stores and gain revenue. Over time, production fees diminish.
4. Decline: Companies develop upgrades. Some competitors release similar products to garner more revenue and success than the original. The initial product may decline in sales and demand over time and becomes irrelevant.

Primary Benefits

Enterprise PLM software contains a comprehensive suite of benefits. Its goal is to centralize data and design processes to improve productivity and revenue. These benefits range from risk reduction and expedited market times to higher-quality products.

Reduce Risks

This program consistently meets diverse local and standard regulatory measures, from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

A PLM system can also help you produce a suitable audit trail with relevant reports, so you don’t fail any expected or surprise audits.

Let’s say, for example, that you own a fountain pen factory. The plastics, ink and other materials needed to create these pens must be up to par and environmentally safe. If you violate compliances, you can risk suspension or permanent factory shutdown.

Improve Productivity

Integrating various processes through heightened visibility and collaboration significantly improves your employee productivity.

Employees can spend less time searching for relevant information about change management and instead use that time for other crucial tasks that aren’t as easy to automate.

For example, instead of searching through hundreds of email threads related to a design to see the latest iterations, they may access a detailed list of adjustments to streamline the design process across your company.

Additionally, more transparent and open access to data insights can improve employee workflows by providing evidence of snags in the system.

Data visualizations can also ensure that all elements of the product lifecycle are running smoothly by making it easy to identify issues rather than digging through spreadsheets quickly.

Increase Revenue

You strengthen productivity and profitability by eliminating bottlenecks, automating processes, staying on top of real-time changes and meeting compliances. You’ll roll out more products and significantly raise your customer satisfaction rates.

For example, creating your pens more efficiently and having a reliable supply chain network equals faster client distribution.

More clients will leave better reviews on your websites and tell people they know to get pens from you, thus boosting your client base and income.

Accelerate Time to Market

Boosting production efficiency and having a robust supply chain is essential to expediting your market time. If you lag in either of these areas, you can’t meet your quota and lose customers.

Thanks to an enterprise PLM’s workflow and change management tools, quote process management and collaboration accessories, you’re always on top of products, suppliers and employees in real time.

If your latest fountain pens need an extra layer of eco-friendly plastic or metals, you can immediately relay this information to manufacturing managers. This efficiency ensures you don’t accidentally ship out non-compliant items before they meet compliances.

Enhance Product Quality

The choice is yours: you can manufacture products or craft high-quality, customer-satisfying goods. The second option garners more revenue, an ever-growing customer base, recognition and self-satisfaction.

This platform will ensure you meet quality standards, including the ISO, FDA and other regulations.

Making hand-crafted fountain pens that write efficiently and fit perfectly in someone’s fingers should always be your top priority. Offering multiple color, engraving or gift-wrapping options can win over clients and keep them returning for more merchandise.

Diminish Costs

Like ERP, PLM systems offer automated tools and protocols to save money and time so you can focus on other high-priority tasks. Simulation tools save on the modeling and prototype process because you can perform what-if scenarios in a virtual environment.

For example, ensure your pens don’t melt when left in the sun. You can test products against high temperatures to ensure you have suitable materials.

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Key Features

PLM system features vary from vendor to vendor, so you must create a requirements list. Our free requirements template helps you compile the right tools that meet your company’s needs. Here are
some of the essential features that you may wish to include:

Bill of Materials (BOM)

Think of BOMs as recipes to cook a particular dish or instruction manuals for building furniture.

They detail the raw materials, subassemblies and costs needed to complete an object that a client wants. Imagine getting 100 to 500 or more BOMs monthly. You need a tool to organize and prioritize them.

A BOM management tool is beneficial. Vendors offer varied capabilities related to this function but have diverse user groups in mind, such as designers, manufacturers and product engineers.

According to SelectHub’s research, you can also employ drill-down extensions, advanced display choices, health checking, risk assessments and notifications.

CAD Management

CAD tools streamline design and engineering practices through computers. Designers can build 2D or 3D prototypes and test them against various conditions digitally instead of investing money and building physical models.

Some modules included within this feature include change management, CAD file management, CAD application integrations, documentation processing, engineering collaboration documentation and variant configuration.

Product Regulation and Governance

Legal compliance is critical when designing a product. Many PLM vendors include compliance specifications for different governments.

These specifications ensure that your designs don’t negatively impact the environment beyond regulation standards or incorporate illegal materials.

Some regulatory specifications in product lifecycle management systems include REACH, RoHS, Conflict Minerals, the Japanese Green Initiative, SOP and Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

If your fountain pens use lead-based ink or the materials for the exteriors have loose shards or splinters, officials will deem it dangerous and close your factory permanently. Following all compliances ensures ongoing services and production.

Simulation

Product lifecycle management systems offer simulation tools to review CAD files before delivering them to the manufacturing sector. You may test designs with realistic conditions like thermal and chemical (i.e., fire, ice, steam, etc.).

This tool is ideal for knowing how your pens hold up during extremely hot or cold temperatures.

Quote Process Management

Allocate quote information to engineers swiftly, whether engineer-to-order or configure-to-order merchandise.

This tool can boost productivity because engineers and manufacturers can immediately get to work once they see the necessary quote info. You also obtain collaborative tools, schedule fees, instant work order drafting and requirements gathering.

If you have a quote to make 50 oak pens with shiny gloss and 30 silver pens with initials, quickly pass it to the manufacturing floor.

Workflow and Change Management

Centralize and maintain revisions for product designs, items and records across all PLM stages.

Use workflow management tools to govern all product workflows from start to finish for auditing purposes.

If new design regulations are needed, you can quickly make notes and save them for your records.

Collaboration Tools

Share designs, notes, updates and more with engineers, manufacturers, supply chain commands and more for better productivity and more on-time deliveries. Discuss and markup design suggestions and receive stakeholder or client input.

Determine which pen designs are worthwhile and make better decisions.

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Usage by Sector

Like other derivatives of ERP software, many businesses utilize a PLM system.

Companies of different sizes, industries and various amounts of employees can all benefit from PLM systems. Here are some sectors that employ PLM services:

• Electronics
• Furniture
• Fashion and Textiles
• Pharmaceuticals
• Engineering
• Energy
• Automotive

Limitations

Like any software system, there are potential issues to consider when considering PLM systems. Here are some of the common complaints about these systems that you might wish to address when making your selection:

Over-The-Top Customizations

It may be more time-consuming if you want to customize these solutions to align with your workflows because your add-ons need additional coding. Try to find the solution that meets all or most of your requirements.

Legacy Systems Don’t Integrate Well

Since legacy solutions are outdated, they may not fully integrate with a new PLM or ERP system. It’s also possible that you can’t transfer all of your old data into an updated solution.

The best way to alleviate this is to back up valuable data and start fresh when you purchase a new system or convert your data into suitable file types for your new platform.

Reluctance To Invest

Some people in your company may not feel eager to learn a new solution. They may think it’s overwhelming because it has too many bells and whistles.

However, you can ask potential vendors for training materials and educational resources such as use cases, videos and more to understand why a new system is ideal.

Notable Trends

Aside from PLM systems, there are also several technology trends to consider adding to your organization. You don’t have to adopt all of them, but it’s best to invest in one or two that best meet your company’s objectives to stay relevant among your competition.

Blockchain

Imagine having a centralized database at your fingertips for multiple users to access simultaneously. This trend can ensure all data remains accurate.

Digital Twin and Digital Thread

These two are packaged deals, although they have different purposes. A digital twin enables you to build a digital model of a physical product in a virtual space.

A digital thread oversees an object’s information from beginning to end. This trend’s popularity within the PLM sector may be why ResearchandMarkets estimates the global digital twin market will hit $63.5 billion by 2027.

Cloud Solutions

Cloud software is sweeping over various industries, from accounting to ERP. You can store the solution and valuable data on third-party servers, saving room on your business computers and expanding your licensing usage.

You may also access the application on any mobile device with a strong internet connection in real time, so you’re always in the loop, even when you’re away from the office.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

VR permits you to interact with and modify 3D items in a 3D environment via goggles or sensor gloves such as Oculus headsets and Microsoft HoloLens.

Conversely, AR lets you cover a real-world atmosphere with sounds, images and text. Some AR examples include Snapchat filters and Pokemon GO. You can leverage these technologies to make realistic blueprints or simulations of products.

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Next Steps

A PLM system is appropriate for companies of all sizes in all industries, from manufacturing and retail to technology and energy. Its key benefits include improving visibility along the design lifecycle and maintaining legal compliance.

Ready to take the next step? Assess our free comparison guide that evaluates numerous product lifecycle management systems across the market with in-depth details and figures.

How has a PLM system streamlined your product lifecycle needs? Let us know in the comments!