Finding the right fit from a range of PLM systems

Editor's note

In the first article of this buyer's guide, research analyst Jim Brown jokes that "if you ask five consultants for their definition of PLM, you'll get six different answers." At the risk of being a joke killer, we have made it our goal with this buyer's guide to help clarify what product lifecycle management (PLM) is -- and isn't -- and to show which software from a range of PLM systems is right for your enterprise.

Knowing what PLM is and what PLM software does is only the first step. Understanding when and in what situations PLM systems are implemented is important in selecting the right tool. The second feature in this guide shows how to diagnose product lifecycle issues and make a prognosis. With most product development and design problems, PLM tools can be the treatment.

If PLM tools indeed cure what ails your product lifecycle, then figuring out which software is the right treatment for you is the next step. The third article in this buyer's guide discusses the key features to consider when selecting a PLM tool to implement. Beginning with looking inward at your enterprise and ending with a vendor assessment is a surefire way to ensure that your organization is getting the right software that matches its demographics, product, industry, and IT and manufacturing needs.

In part four, we present several PLM systems available in the market today. Going beyond that, though, Brown provides analysis into which PLM tool fits which business scenario best. To provide further coverage, in part five, TechTarget presents in-depth looks at each of the mentioned PLM systems. All of this is designed to help you choose the right PLM tools for your enterprise, because misunderstanding the software and picking the wrong PLM system is no joking matter.