ERP and PLM

Product lifecycle management is a software-enabled strategy to manage a product through its entire lifecycle from design to retirement or disposal. Get the best articles on the difference between ERP and PLM, what an integrated suite of PLM applications can help companies do, how PLM systems work with technologies such as digital manufacturing and IoT, and why PLM and ERP integration is crucial.

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May 22, 2015 22 May'15
As platform companies take over, should product companies question their business model?

Businesses such as Apple, Microsoft and Google have risen to the top largely because they're founded on powerful platforms. How can companies that sell products -- like spices or sprinklers -- benefit from the platform model?
April 28, 2015 28 Apr'15
Manufacturing pioneers embrace product as a service

Despite the hoopla over the IoT, it's still early days for product as a service as manufacturers steer a slow course to new business models.
October 03, 2013 03 Oct'13
Manufacturers see competitive power in service excellence, IDC says

An IDC-Infor study reveals that more manufacturers are turning to service excellence as a revenue driver and customer strategy.
July 26, 2012 26 Jul'12
IDC: Warranty transaction management tools mature but underused

PTC and SAP are the top warranty transaction management software vendors, according to a new IDC Manufacturing Insights report.

Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content

SAP Quality Management (QM)

SAP Quality Management (QM) is a component of SAP ERP Central Component (ECC) that helps businesses implement and run quality control processes. Continue Reading
discrete manufacturing

Discrete manufacturing is an industry term for the manufacturing of finished products that are distinct items capable of being easily counted, touched or seen. Continue Reading
digital thread

A digital thread is a strategy for connecting manufacturing systems and digitally linking a manufacturing environment from end to end. Continue Reading

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

PLM platforms evolve for a role in IoT

Integration with IoT systems can extend the possibilities for PLM platforms, but according to experts, they must first evolve technically to handle the IoT data and processes. Continue Reading
How do digital manufacturing and the PLM process connect?

Both digital manufacturing and product lifecycle management are concerned with connections, but the two concepts are not the same thing. Here's a look at how these concepts differ. Continue Reading
Are both an engineering bill of materials and a manufacturing BOM needed?

Manufacturing a product can be very different than what engineers have envisioned. Here's a look at what that means for different bills of materials. Continue Reading

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Making IoT and PLM systems work together takes cultural change

Integration with IoT holds promise for extending PLM applications, but experts say there are technical and cultural changes that need to take place for this to work. Continue Reading
IoT may throw a lifeline to PLM systems

PLM systems have functioned mostly in engineering, but now IoT-connected devices are allowing PLM to be more useful across the entire product lifecycle. Continue Reading
Why is engineering change control important to manufacturers?

When a product needs changes after being released to production, the process can be disruptive and messy. Engineering change control can help. Continue Reading

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Distributor puts product data syndication in its place with Thomas

BDI corralled its extensive catalog of manufacturing partner product data into one database using Thomas Enterprise Solutions Continue Reading
Manufacturing PLM tools beginner’s tutorial

In this guide, learn the basics of PLM tools, including software selection, implementation, and cloud computing options. Continue Reading
SCM PLM integration gives manufacturers greater supply chain perspective

Manufacturers are seeing the connection between supply chain management (SCM) and product lifecycle management (PLM) software. Through SCM PLM integration, problems in the supply chain can be address -- and solved -- with greater ease. Continue Reading