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* Welcome * Welcome to 2PLM, an e-zine distributed about every two weeks. This issue includes :
The subject of 2PLM ezine is PLM, Product Lifecycle Management, the business activity of managing a company's products all the way across their lifecycles with the objective of maximizing the value of the product portfolio. PLM is the joined-up management of a product throughout its lifecycle:
PLM is holistic and addresses many product-related components such as information, processes, people, project management techniques, organizational structure and applications. One of the benefits of PLM is that it helps reduce product-related risks. If a company doesn't manage a product well it runs risks such as:
Similarly, understanding what has been going wrong with product development projects in the past can help companies to understand how to avoid such problems in the future. As the philosopher George Santayana (1863-1952) wrote, 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it'. On October 3, 2006 EADS published a Press Release, EADS and Airbus finalise A380 review (details), and Airbus also published a Press Release, Airbus Confirms Further A380 Delay (details). The EADS release announced "the management estimates that the A380 series production will generate a cumulative programme EBIT loss of around Euro 2.8 billion for the years 2006 to 2010". The Airbus release announced "In June, the amount of work to be done to finalise the installation of the electrical harnesses into the forward and rear section of the fuselage had been underestimated. Beyond the complexity of the cable installation, the root cause of the problem is the fact that the 3D Digital Mock up, which facilitates the design of the electrical harnesses installation, was implemented late and that the people working on it were in their learning curve." The Airbus Release also announced, "measures have been taken, which, in addition to management changes, include the implementation of the same proven tools on all sites, as well as the creation of multi-national teams to better use the best skills available. Simultaneously, training is being organised to swiftly bring the employees using those tools to the optimum level. With the right tools, the right people, the right training and the right oversight and management being put in place, the issue is now addressed at its root, although it will take time until these measures bear fruit." 
The problems with the A380 would be expected to have an effect on suppliers and, according to the BBC on October 6, "Rolls-Royce confirmed it will suspend production of one of its top engines, following delays to the Airbus A380 super-jumbo announced this week. Airbus's A380 planes, now two years late, use Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines." Details Also on October 6, Reuters announced an EADS shareholder has filed for damages over the timing of disclosure of A380 delays. Details * Sony Battery Recall * BBC, 29 September. "Toshiba and Lenovo have become the latest computer makers to recall laptop batteries made by Sony because of a potential fire risk. Lenovo is recalling 500,000 batteries, while Toshiba is calling back 830,000." Details BBC, October 6. "Japan's Hitachi Corporation has become the latest firm to recall Sony-made batteries amid safety fears. Hitachi is recalling about 16,000 laptop battery packs, consisting of Sony-made lithium-ion batteries, installed in laptop computers in Japan. Dell recalled 4.2 million batteries while Apple recalled 1.8 million, a move which is likely to cost Sony about $170m. Sony said the batteries can fuse because pieces of metal were left in their cells during the manufacturing process." Details * Your PLM Plans for 2007 * As we move into the last quarter of 2006, many companies are deep in the planning and budgetary processes for 2007. The recent product-related issues that have arisen at world-renowned companies such as Airbus, Sony and Toyota have moved PLM even further up the list of must-do activities for 2007. Having understood the need for PLM, business managers will now be looking for action and results from the PLM team. They'll expect to see a coherent, business-oriented PLM initiative in the corporate plans for 2007. They'll want to see that innovative products will be brought to market rapidly and to schedule. Has your company thought through the details of PLM and its development during the next few years? What will the PLM Team be proposing in the PLM Strategy? How will the PLM Initiative be presented to the CEO and the CFO? What will they be told about the status of PLM in 2006, and the vision for 2011? To avoid reinventing the wheel, read the 'PLM State of the Art May 2006 Report' (details), a 103-page document describing the State of the Art of Product Lifecycle Management in May 2006. The State of the Art report includes a State of the Art PLM Vision and describes a Best Practice PLM Initiative. A PLM Needs Assessment may be selected as the first step of a PLM Initiative in 2007. If so, it should include the following ten steps:
The PLM Needs Assessment was developed to be fast and lean. It was designed to be carried out using Web technology and teleconferencing, and to avoid travel to different locations. This helps keep costs and time to a minimum, with a cost far lower than the traditional consulting approach. It also makes it particularly attractive for companies with operations on several continents. Of course, the PLM Needs Assessment can be customized to include travel and on-site visits to meet your exact requirements. For more information about assistance with the PLM Needs Assessment, or with PLM Strategy Development and PLM Planning for 2007, please contact John Stark Associates. * ISO/TC 184/SC4 Launches New Initiative on Industrial Data Quality * The ISO Technical Committee 184, Industrial automation systems and integration, Subcommittee 4, Industrial data, announced the formation of a new ISO/TC 184/SC4 Work Group, Industrial Data Quality. ISO subcommittee ISO/TC 184/SC4 (Industrial Data) has begun work on a new standard for data quality, ISO 8000. Members of the subcommittee are looking forward to the number of the standard becoming as ubiquitous as ISO 9000 for Quality Management Systems. The participating nations in ISO/TC 184/SC4 have appointed Dr. Timothy King from the United Kingdom to be Convener of a new Working Group, WG13 Industrial Data Quality. WG13 will oversee the work programme to develop ISO 8000. The scope of the standard will cover data both across the complete product lifecycle and throughout the supply chain. The standard will be applicable to the full range of industry sectors. ISO/TC 184/SC4 is keen to capture within ISO 8000 existing best practice in addressing industrial data quality. To this end, the subcommittee welcomes input and involvement from experts from across industry, government and academia. Any individuals or organizations with ideas to contribute are welcome to contact the ISO/TC84/SC4 Secretariat. Details |
