Page 1 - Welcome Page 2 - Update Page 3 - News Page 4 - Brief lines |
* Welcome * Welcome to 2PLM, an e-zine distributed about every two weeks. This issue includes :
We've mentioned the A380 delay several times, for example in the October 9 issue - but how many changes of plan have there been? According to the Airbus and EADS websites, there have been at least four. That's taking the EADS Press Release of July 2000 announcing "first deliveries to customers in the last quarter of 2005" as the baseline. The most recent announcement was in an EADS Press Release of October 2006, "The first Airbus A380 series aircraft will be delivered in the second half of 2007". 1. A plan for first delivery in the last quarter of 2005 According to an EADS Press Release of 24 July 2000, "First flight of the A3XX is due in 2004, and first deliveries to customers in the last quarter of 2005." Details 2. A plan for first delivery in the spring of 2006 According to an Airbus Press Release of March 18, 2004, "We shall all achieve our goal of delivering the first Airbus A380 to its purchaser in the spring of 2006." Details 3. A plan for first delivery in late 2006 According to an EADS Press Release of 14 February 2006, "the world's largest commercial airliner will be delivered to the first operator Singapore Airlines in late 2006." Details 4. A shift of six to seven months According to an Airbus Press Release of 13 June 2006, "Airbus has informed its customers today that a review of the A380 programme has shown that the delivery schedule will undergo a shift of six to seven months" Details 5. A plan for first delivery in late 2007 . . . . delayed for another year According to an EADS Press Release of 3 October 2006, "The first Airbus A380 series aircraft will be delivered in the second half of 2007." . . . . "Compared to the June 13 plan deliveries will be delayed for another year on average" Details The October 31 issue of upFront-eZine included research and links about the A380 programme. According to this link, Airbus started to offer the A3XX aircraft to airlines on June 23, 2000. Milestones The plans seem to have included milestones. According to an Airbus Press Release dated 27 April 2005, "Prior to taking off, the A380 had successfully completed a series of ground tests, which started in the summer of 2004 when the electrical power was put on for the first time (so-called "power-on" milestone). Since then Airbus has systematically and exhaustively tested all A380 systems, from hydraulics to electrics, and all parts of the airframe structure," Details According to an Airbus Press Release dated 1 September, 2005, "Fatigue testing on the A380 started two months ahead of schedule today as part of the aircraft's certification programme." . . . . "Charles Champion, Chief Operating Officer and Head of the A380 Programme, said that yet another significant A380 milestone had been achieved." Details 
EADS Business Processes "Based on EADS' activities, seventeen high-level business processes have been identified within EADS. They are categorized into core processes (research and development, production, sales, after sales and program management), support processes (procurement, human resources, accounting, fixed assets, treasury, information technology, mergers & acquisitions, legal and insurance) and management processes (internal audit, controlling and management controls)." Details EADS Reporting Procedure Announcement : 31 October 2006 The EADS Board decided that the EADS CEOs will regularly report on all major projects, programmes, and matters of importance - including Airbus - to the two EADS Chairmen to better prepare Board discussions and decisions. Details * What comes after PLM? * People often ask what comes after PLM. The answer needs some thought, because if someone asks this question it usually means they don't understand PLM. PLM is the business activity of managing a product all the way across its lifecycle:
The details and effectiveness of PLM change as the business environment and the available technologies change. In 1906, companies managed products with the resources and beliefs of the early 20th century. Stage coaches, typewriters and pencils all played their role. By 1956, telephones and photocopiers were in wide use, and in Japan, new approaches to quality were affecting the way products were managed. In 2006, pervasive electronics, new applications and ubiquitous computing are continuing to change the way products are managed across the lifecycle. They are making it possible to manage products much more effectively across the lifecycle. In the future, PLM is expected to become even more effective. 
* Milestones are for a one-dimensional World * Once upon a time, the King of Transylvania told Duke Louis to escort the Crown Jewels to his summer palace. "Take 100 musketeers and Chevalier Wilfried to tell of progress." In those days, it was a five day journey. The first day, bandits ambushed the royal troupe killing 20 musketeers. When the coaching house was reached that evening, Chevalier Wilfried wrote to the King, "Sire, we have achieved the first milestone". The second day, there were more ambushes. Duke Louis and 30 musketeers were killed. When the coaching house was reached that evening, Chevalier Wilfried wrote to the King, "Sire, we have achieved the second milestone". The third day, there were more ambushes. 49 musketeers were killed. The Crown Jewels were stolen. When the coaching house was reached that evening, Chevalier Wilfried wrote to the King, "Sire, we have achieved the third milestone". Then he told the last musketeer they would start before dawn next morning to avoid the bandits, ride hard, and reach the summer palace before nightfall. Wilfried's words were wise. They arrived at the palace as the sun was setting, and Chevalier Wilfried wrote to the King, "Final milestone achieved one day ahead of schedule." * Product Life live 2006 * It's been clear for many years that companies need to develop increasingly complex products very quickly, manufacture parts world-wide on multiple sites, and support customers world-wide over many years. It's also been clear that, to meet these needs, companies need to deploy an integrated PLM infrastructure of processes, work methods, applications, data and human resources - and the corresponding organizational structure and metrics. It's also clear that it takes time for all those involved to understand what is needed and to start taking action. Events such as "Product Life live 2006" provide a good opportunity to understand more about PLM. For more information about assistance with PLM, arrange a meeting at the Product Life live 2006 Conference and Exhibition in Mainz, Germany, or contact us at John Stark Associates. |
