PLM process optimization for a manufacturing company

The customer commissioned DI Experts to optimize its product development processes, to enable the key user team to support the specialist departments in the future and to develop sound business test cases in order to successfully prepare the upcoming update of the PLM software.

After the introduction of a PLM system, the specialist departments continued to work according to different standards, and there was a lack of a common understanding of the product development processes and clearly defined responsibilities. For the upcoming software upgrade, it was therefore necessary to set up a dedicated key user team and systematically document all test cases.

First, DI Experts moderated a workshop in which the PLM system was presented in a practical way and its functions were demonstrated using typical processes. DI Experts then invited specialist and key users to a joint working group to analyze processes in planning, material and product development in detail and bring them onto a uniform basis. At the same time, DI Experts developed comprehensive test scenarios that map all the update processes and documented the current process status. Finally, DI Experts identified weak points, formulated specific improvement measures and presented all results and recommendations to the team.

The close collaboration resulted in an overarching understanding of the PLM processes in which roles and responsibilities are clearly anchored. DI Experts also identified optimization potential that will enable the customer to carry out future software updates smoothly.