PLM Interest Group

The Professional PLM Initiative aims to explore the possiblities and benefits of professionalism in PLM, and show how a recognised Professional Body might be established.

The initiative has generated a definitive Industry White Paper and five multi-timezone workshops on subjects ranging from the future of PLM to the impact of PLM on Offshoring.

Interest has grown to the point where we need to bring people together from all parts of the PLM industry to discuss the options and decide what actions to take.

			The PLM Interest Group will therefore host an International Panel of practitioners and organisations who will review the aims and practicalities, and who may provide an agreed basis for moving forward.

The Panel will hold its first meeting on 28 January 2025, and will be supported by an Industry Forum as part of a twin-track process. PLM practitioners from all parts of the industry and all parts of the world are welcome to join.

The PLMIG will manage the programme, supporting both groups, and generating the deliverables to bring about a clearly-defined Vision for the future.

The International Panel will start work in the New Year and provide the initial structure and direction.

It will be supported by a Forum, open to PLM practitioners worldwide, that will meet on the same timescale and propose ideas and enhancements for the Panel to consider.

The Panel and the Forum will be two different types of discussion that are kept separate to maintain the quality of both.

The Panel is a 'Round Table' group whose members work with each other carefully and thoroughly, in confidence and without disruption.  Their primary consideration is how establishing a profession will affect their organisations, the marketplace, and the future of the industry.  Panel members are briefed before each meeting, and the PLMIG produces an agreed Summary Document to capture progress and publicise developments to the world at large.

The Forum is an open group that can be as disruptive as it likes.  It meets after every Panel meeting to review the Summary Document, offer opinions, propose ideas and suggest improvements.  The Forum conclusions become part of the briefing for the next Panel session.

The first step in this process is to form the International Panel.  Everything else will then fall into place around it.

The PLMIG will host an International Panel of PLM practitioners and organisations that will hold its inaugural meeting at the start of 2025.  The meeting is scheduled for 28 January at 15:00 [UK], which will allow practitioners from all American and European time zones to take part.  We will take advice from Indian participants about their views on timing.

The aim of the Panel is to define a common view of the way forward on the path to a profession, and to provide input and guidance on its parameters and structure.  The issues need to be considered carefully, thoughtfully and from many perspectives, and the Panel is the platform for this to happen.

Participants from all types of organisation (users, vendors, integrators, consultants, and educational institutions) are encouraged to join; and from all parts of the world.  PLM is a global subject, and so input from as many countries as possible is desirable.

The meetings will be in a Round Table format, held on-line and scheduled to allow different time zones to take part.  The meetings are free, confidential, and without obligation.

If you think you might like to be part of the Panel, there is a Datasheet that explains all the details.

			The Datasheet provides a concise explanation of the background, need, vision and benefits that underlie this new drive to explore the possibilities of a PLM Profession. It includes includes a Form with which practitioners can enrol. There is no cost for Panel membership, and no obligation to attend a particular number of meetings.  The briefing overhead is kept to a minimum, and Members can leave at any time.

Download the Datasheet >>>                              Download the Datasheet [PDF] >>>

Moving towards professionalism would be a significant step forward for PLM.  User companies get access to a professionally-skilled, globally-mobile workforce.  Vendors, integrators and consultancies can demonstrate the calibre of their staff in absolute terms, and by supporting professional norms and practices they can lead their clients much faster along the implementation path.

However, there is also a wider benefit for PLM as a whole.  Until now there has never been a platform for experienced practitioners from many countries to meet as a cohesive force to decide where PLM should go in the future.  Thus far, the development of PLM has been entirely random.

The International Panel will change that.  The principles, guidelines, standards and methods to produce Professional PLM are universal - they apply to every professional practitioner, and to every implementation that is run in a professional way.  As the Panel meets every few weeks, and interacts with the Forum, its members' ideas will gel into what amounts to a Vision for the industry.

And therein lies the power of the concept.  PLM recognised and championed in a coherent and consistent way across thirty or perhaps forty different countries.  Formulation of an agreed Body of Knowledge that everyone can work from.  International consensus on the strengths and weaknesses of PLM development around the world.

The Panel is now being formed, and we need the people who would like to join to let us know.  The scope of this is worldwide, and all types of organisation should be represented.

If you would like to take part then send in the Enrolment Form that is provided in the Datasheet, or download and complete a stand-alone copy via the link below.  

Download the Enrolment Form >>>

Registration will remain open until 21 January, to allow proper time for meeting preparation.  If you have any questions in the meantime then you can request further information via internationalpanel@plmig.com.

[Back]   [Top]