Faster PLM adoption translates to quicker improvements in product development efficiency, quality, and innovation, among others. Small steps can accumulate quickly into transformative change. This article explores how to accelerate adoption.
Gaining Executive Sponsorship
Like any major corporate initiative, PLM benefits from strong executive sponsorship. Senior leaders must appreciate PLM’s strategic value to fund the necessary training, software, and hardware. Educate executives on PLM’s strategic impact on revenue, costs, quality, time-to-market, sustainability, and long-term competitiveness. Use quantitative data to support your arguments, such as performance improvements, ROI calculations, and pilot project outcomes. Appeal to the fear of missing out as competitors reap benefits from advanced PLM capabilities. Secure multi-year budget commitments to fund the required software, hardware, training, and personnel needed for a successful implementation.
User Enablement and Training
PLM can only speed up workflows if users know how to use the new tools and adopt them willingly. Training and support for new features should parallel development. To facilitate user adoption, identify change champions from different business units and countries who can demonstrate the workflows and help their colleagues. Develop role-based training programs that cover the processes and tools that are relevant for each role, such as engineering, manufacturing, quality, sales, etc. Simple interfaces and intuitive UX lower the learning curve. Use different methods of training, such as simulations, videos, tutorials, and interactive guides, to suit different learning styles.
Focus on High-Impact Use Cases
Avoid “boiling the ocean” by tackling all processes at once. Prioritize the 20% of capabilities that deliver 80% of value. Achieve quick wins to gain support and momentum for larger initiatives. Prioritize capabilities with the biggest downstream impact. Focus on the improvements that eliminate bottlenecks for dependent groups, creating enterprise-wide benefits.
Agile Implementation Approach
Traditional waterfall PLM implementations are often long, discouraging, and fail to meet evolving needs. Agile methods can deliver value faster through iterative deliverables, continuous user feedback, and transparency. Roll out new capabilities in minimum viable product (MVP) based increments focused on the essence of each workflow. Test and learn from real-world scenarios. Fail fast and adjust based on feedback. Maintain flexibility to change direction to meet evolving needs.
Leverage Modular Platform Capabilities
Previous generation monolithic legacy PLM suites freeze in outdated architectures not suited for flexible growth. However, most modern platforms offer modular capabilities to support specific workstreams like supplier collaboration, change management, requirements management. Modular capabilities are configurable and require less custom coding. They also integrate emerging technologies faster. They can also scale easily to support more use cases, data, and users. APIs enable connecting to modern ecosystems and external innovation.