Need for a BRM
The need for an industry-standard, industry-agreed
PLM Benefits Reference Model is increasingly seen as a high priority by both
vendor and user members of the PLM Interest Group (PLMIG).
When the subject was looked at more closely, it was found that although everyone could
see why such a model would be useful, nobody could describe it
clearly, or see how it could be developed.
Most people could explain the need for the Model by reference to problems
they had encountered with explaining and justifying the
benefits of PLM in a particular situation. And often they had found that creating such a
justification was complex and time-consuming, and relied on vague,
difficult-to-substantiate, and qualitative measures that were not
understood or appreciated by business managers.
Most people could also explain the benefits of a good Model
in a situation they had experienced. For example, a user in a company just
starting to look at PLM said,
"a PLM Benefits Reference Model would help us explain to management why
we need PLM, and what the benefits will be". A similar remark was made by
a user in a company that
had carried out an initial deployment of PLM, and had launched a project to
extend the deployment.
It wasn't only users who could see the benefits. Vendors said it would
help reduce the long sales cycle of PLM; consultants and system integrators
said it would grow
the market for their services; researchers in academia and industry said
it would lead to exciting research opportunities.
Although people could see why the Model would be useful, they could
not see how to make it happen. Late in Summer 2005, though, things began to change,
and ideas about the shape of the Model became clearer. The PLMIG decided to
launch the PLM Benefits Reference Model initiative.
What the BRM Will Do
The PLM Benefits Reference Model will answer the question "what would be
the benefits of PLM for a particular company in a particular
industry in a particular situation?".
And the answer will be something like this, "according to the generally-agreed,
industry-standard PLM Benefits Reference Model, the benefits of PLM in
that particular situation would be A, B, C, D ....". The Model will give useful
results that the CEO and the CFO can understand very quickly, enabling
rapid deployment of PLM, and rapid achieval of business benefits.
The Model will save time when identifying the benefits for each
new situation, make it easier to communicate about PLM, and provide a basis
for management decisions about PLM investments.
For more information about this Initiative, contact
brm@plmig.com
Copyright 2008. PLM
Interest Group
