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PLM Research 2005. Meeting FAQs


FAQS Version 0.3 of January 8, 2005

Q1. Why is this meeting scheduled now?
A1. Because, in the last two months, the EC has published :

  • several Calls for Proposals that could lead to PLM-related projects
  • its Manufuture Vision for 2020
So now is a good time to respond.

Q2. What is PLM? Is it important for Manufacturing?
A2. PLM is the management of products, and related services, across their lifecycles. It's a strategic business activity for most companies that manufacture products. PLM becomes ever more needed as more and more work is outsourced. Implementing PLM includes tasks such as identifying and quantifying expected business benefits, defining new business processes, understanding data structures, managing knowhow, selecting appropriate application systems, training employees in new working methods (e.g., collaborative product development, sustainable development, integrating RFID feedback from products in the field, etc.). Market analysts estimate that the annual PLM market size may reach $20 billion. Industrial companies see PLM as a way of gaining competitive advantage. PLM is a relatively new paradigm, which makes it an excellent subject for research.

Q3. Why is this meeting organised by the PLMIG?
A3. The PLMIG believes that the EC should fund PLM research, but will not do so until PLM researchers become more focused and organised, and jointly propose a coherent plan. This meeting will allow PLM researchers to work together to develop the future of PLM research.

Q4. What is the PLMIG?
A4. The Product Lifecycle Management Interest Group (PLMIG) is an Interest Group bringing together organisations and individuals interested in PLM. It is an independent organisation, funded by members' annual subscriptions and its activities.

Q5. Wouldn't it be better if the EC ran this event?
A5. At this stage, it's probably better for PLM researchers to take the initiative of organising a meeting to decide about their future.

Q6. Why is such a meeting needed?
A6. There are two ways to respond to the EC publications mentioned in Q1 :
  • people can respond individually (uncoordinated duplicate effort, with some areas totally ignored)
  • people can work collaboratively to identify a good way to proceed, then define the details of what to do next.
The meeting takes the second option.

Q7. Why do I have to join the PLMIG to attend the meeting
A7. The meeting is for people who are seriously interested in PLM and PLM research. Obliging people to join the PLM Interest Group helps filter out people and organisations that have little interest in PLM but like going to meetings. In addition, if the meeting is successful, and leads on to excellent proposals, it will be helpful to be able to show the EC the cohesion and commitment of the participants.

Q8. I have no budget. Can I come free?
A8. No. It would be unfair to other participants to allow you to participate without paying.

Q9. Will the PLMIG be the project coordinator?
A9. Two answers:
  1. it's expected that there will be more than one proposal
  2. it's not expected that the PLMIG would act as the project coordinator. There are many organisations better equipped to act as project coordinator.
Q8. Who is on the Steering Committee?
A8. There is currently no Steering Committee. One of the objectives of the meeting is to elect the Steering Committee. But first the meeting will need to decide what profile is needed for Steering Committee members. For example:
  • Should they be from industry or academia?
  • Should they be interested in the early part of the product lifecycle or the end of life?
  • Should they be interested in application systems or in measuring the business benefits of PLM?
Q11. Can you assure me that I will definitely get EC funding if I attend the meeting?
A11. No.

Q12. Will my ideas for a project be accepted at the meeting?
A12. The meeting will listen to your ideas, and may agree with you.

Q13. How can I be sure people won't steal my ideas for research?
A13. The meeting is primarily aimed at working out how people interested in the large domain of PLM can best respond to the EC's recent publications. You will not be asked to divulge secret or confidential information.

Q14. Is there a hidden agenda for this meeting?
A14. No.

Q15. I'm with an industrial company. Can I attend, or is the meeting only for academics?
A15. People from industrial companies can participate.

Q16. Is this a just a two-day meeting, or will there be more after?
A16. It's up to the participants to decide, but if all goes well, the intention is to continue with preparation of proposals.

Q17. How can I be sure my information will be kept confidential?
A17. One of the rules of the PLMIG is that all information exchanged in meetings is confidential. By becoming PLMIG members, people accept that rule.

Q18. Is this meeting aimed at a specific Call and project, or at trying to identify a project?
A18. To answer this question requires understanding FP6.
  • FP6 has 7 basic Thematic Areas for research. It also has cross-cutting research activities. And activities to structure the European Research Area (ERA). It also has activities to strengthen the foundations of the ERA. And activities in the area of Nuclear Energy. Among the 7 basic Thematic Areas for research, several are relevant for PLM - 2. IST, 3. NMP (specifically "new production processes"), 4. Aeronautics, 5. Food quality and safety 6. Sustainable Development
    At least 8 of the 11 areas/activities are relevant to PLM.
  • FP6 has several "instruments" for research, including : Integrated Projects, Networks of Excellence, Specific Targeted Research Projects, Coordination Actions ; Specific Support Actions ; Co-operative Research Projects ; Collective Research projects, Marie Curie Actions.
    All of these 8 instruments are relevant to PLM.
Of the currently open FP6 calls, 11 are relevant to PLM. They are in different areas/activities and address different instruments.
So to answer the question, yes this meeting is aimed at specific Calls and projects, and yes, this meeting is aimed at trying to identify projects.

Q19. Are all decisions taken in the framework of the ICP-35K proposal applicable to this activity?
A19. No, this activity is green-field. It starts from the beginning again (but the experience and lessons learned during ICP-35K are useful.)

Q20. Isn't there a danger that if many people come to the meeting everyone will get a smaller slice of the cake?
A20. Maybe, but the objective is the opposite. There are currently several cakes, not just one. The size of future cakes can be increased. And unless it is very clear what PLM research is needed, the EC may offer no cake at all.

Q21. Can organisations that were not in ICP-35K participate?
A21. Yes.

Q22. Will the meeting prefer one big proposal, or several small proposals?
A22. The participants at the meeting will decide.

Q23. Can SMEs participate?
A23. Yes.

Q24. PLM has a wide scope, FP6 has many facets. Which part of PLM is the focus of the meeting?
A24. The participants will decide. (Some are interested in collaborative product development, some in product costing, some in product traceability, some in financial justification of PLM, etc.)

Q25. I'm interested in research into Manufacturing in general. Can I come?
A25. It's an open meeting so you can attend. However it's not obvious how useful it will be for you. There are many areas and levels of Manufacturing research ranging from macro-economic statistical research into Manufacturing as a sector of world industry, to research into the details of manufacturing technologies such as milling. PLM is at a level between those two. It's the holistic, joined-up business activity of managing a company's products across their lifecycles.

Q26. Is this meeting funded by the EC?
A26. No.

Q27. Why is this a 2-day meeting. Isn't 1 day enough?
A27. There is a lot to do in this meeting. Rather than having a one-day meeting now, and another one-day meeting in the near future, it was decided to have a 2-day meeting now. With this approach, all the issues can be addressed together, people only need to travel once, and the possibility of making a proposal in February is left open. (Of course, it's understood that some people will only be able to attend for one day.)

Q28. Why is there a fee to attend the meeting?
A28. The meeting has no external source of funding, so the costs are being shared by the participants.

Q29. I'm in CAD research not nanotechnology. Can I attend?
A29. Yes. The meeting is for researchers in PLM (or components of PLM such as CAD) for any industry or technology. PLM is applicable in all industries that have products (car, aerospace, machine tool, food, apparel, etc.) and for all technologies (microtechnology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, etc.)

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