PLMIG

PLM INTEREST GROUP


What is the PLMIG?

- About
- Mission

PLMIG Activities

- User Initiative
- Market Initiative
- Future PLM

PLM Reference Models

- Overview
- Benefits Reference Model
- Maturity Reference Model
- Best Practice Model

PLM Research

- Research SIG

PLMIG Publications

- PLM Journal
- Benchmarking Handbook
- PLM-SCM Guidebook
- PLM Self-Assessment
- Impartial Advice

PLMIG Workshops

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Events

- European PLM Summit

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Research Special Interest Group

Research SIG Background

PLM is a comparatively new activity in research terms. The subject raises many questions and opens up new research areas such as:-

  • what are the resulting changes in the application landscape?

  • how are the benefits achieved?

  • what are the relevant business models?

  • what are the success factors in collaborative product innovation?

  • how will PLM evolve?

  • what new applications will emerge?
It is not easy to do research in PLM. The subject:-
  • is complex

  • is cross-functional

  • may be international

  • may have a lifecycle of many years

It needs a collaborative approach, and a wide scope of knowledge and experience. It can be difficult to build the industrial/academic relationships that are required - there is a lack of industry awareness of academic work in this area, and academics may not have the close industrial contacts needed to set up and follow through their research.

Furthermore, PLM as a subject may not be well addressed and supported in the current programmes of funding bodies.

The Experience of ICP-35K
There is already experience within the PLM Interest Group of organising PLM research. The first meetings of the PLM Interest Group in 2003 were hosted by ICP-35K Project Limited, the coordinating body of a research consortium that aimed to create and carry out the first truly comprehensive research project into PLM.

At its peak the ICP-35K Consortium had 87 participants, including universities, research institutes, vendors, developers, consultants and both large and small industrial companies. It built on this collaboration to devise a research project that was capable of addressing all areas of PLM and CPD, and developed the framework that was capable of carrying it out. This expertise remains within the PLMIG.

What is the Research SIG?
The Research SIG is a subgroup of members of the PLMIG who have a specific interest in PLM research.

Not everyone who is interested in PLM is also interested in research. For many people, research is too abstract, takes too long to get results, and they would not welcome a lot of theoretical discussions as part of the everyday proceedings of the PLMIG.

On the other hand, those who are interested in PLM research would welcome a forum in which they could share research ideas and results that are specifically PLM-related; and in which they could make contacts that would bridge the gaps between academia and industry.

To join the Research SIG, all that is necessary is to join the PLMIG and then to elect to be a member of the SIG.

Research SIG Objectives
The objectives of the Research SIG are:-
  • to bring together people and organisations with an interest in PLM research

  • to help enable members to organise and coordinate themselves to present proposals

  • to facilitate contacts and knowledge flow between academia, research organisations and industry

  • to develop a forum for discussion and debate on PLM research ideas

  • to be the high-level organisation promoting PLM research to funding bodies as required by its members

Research SIG Activities
These objectives will be achieved via long-term development of the Research Special Interest Group with a global focus. This is the only way to raise the quality, depth and value of PLM research.

Find out more about joining the Research SIG via .

Copyright 2008. PLM Interest Group