February 26 2007
2PLM

John Stark Associates


Volume 9
Number 21




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 :
  • Super Users
  • PLM State of the Art Report
* Super Users *
Menno Huijben

The Super User, aka Key User, can be found on the project organization chart of every PLM initiative and in any IT implementation project.

Super Users are the sheep with 5 legs in IT projects. A Super User needs to be:
  • an expert on the current and envisioned business processes
  • an expert on product data structures (in case of PDM/PLM)
  • a system tester
  • a trainer
  • a help-desk
and .... to keep on doing their normal work (sorry, that makes 6 legs). Super indeed.

Super Users are the mantra when a solution provider is scoping your project. The provider needs:
  • an efficient interface to the organization
  • immediate access to the right experts
  • people for the "train the trainer" program
  • people to hand support over to after the project ends
  • some critical mass in the organization that can declare the project a success
"Super Users", the provider demands, "plenty of good ones, please".

Generally, the business organization responds reluctantly. Nobody told them beforehand it would need to make its own resources available for the project. Weren't the provider and the IT department going to do the implementation? So, a few Super Users (names) are put on the project org chart. The result is high expectations and a lot of pressure on these Super Users.

But, how should a Super User be selected? Is she the best expert in the organization, probably overloaded already with all kinds of other assignments, or is he a person with "not so much to do" at the moment? And how many Super Users do we need? 1 per 10 users, or 1 per 25 users, or?

These are questions that don't have a universal answer, but they need to be very consciously answered for each project. It's important to double check your assumptions and communicate your expectations well.

In a small department with 30 people, two people getting the Super User assignment might take this easy and think it is interesting. In another case, 10 Super Users getting relatively the same assignment to support 150 users might perceive this as a big burden.
The best business process expert might be a lousy trainer, and not interested in testing.

Super Users can make or break a project. Have a motivated, empowered team of Super Users and your project success rate will go up. Have too few Super Users, overloaded with other work, and you're in for trouble.

Make sure when assigning Super Users to your project that:
  • you discuss their involvement with their bosses
  • their assignment becomes part of their (yearly) target setting / bonus scheme
  • they have enough time available
  • their role is clearly understood and is in line with their skills
  • any concerns they might have are taken seriously
And make sure that you regularly check during the project how your Super Users are doing, and take timely corrective actions.

If you want a super project, take care of your Super Users!

Menno Huijben is a senior advisor at Sofigate Oy. Sofigate is dedicated to improve the performance of Information Management in organizations, hands-on and down-to-earth.
Menno can be contacted at an address of the type
firstname.secondname@sofigate.com




 Share-A-space



* PLM State of the Art 2006 Report *
Priced at $US 475, the PLM State of the Art Report offers fast, low-cost, high-value support for companies with PLM Initiatives and other types of PLM project.

The PLM State of the Art 2006 Report gives an in-depth introduction to 'cradle-to-grave' PLM, and is a great resource to support a PLM Initiative and to help you develop a PLM Vision, Strategy or Roadmap.

The Report is currently being used by companies in many industry sectors including automotive, electrical, electronic, food, industrial equipment, machine tool, medical equipment, plant engineering, and white goods.

The 103-page document includes: an overview of PLM; a PLM Framework; the Six Levels of PLM; development of a PLM Vision; a Best Practice PLM Initiative; and Key PLM Issues for Users and Vendors. Details

Key reasons why you should read the PLM State of the Art 2006 Report:
  • get a broad understanding of the main issues of PLM
  • get a coherent business-oriented framework for introduction and use of PLM
  • identify specific next steps towards PLM implementation
  • compare your situation to the State of the Art
  • understand how customers and partners view PLM
  • avoid wasting time and money re-developing existing information


Page 2

Understanding PLM
Some resources to help increase understanding of PLM:


Product Lifecycle Management Library

Follow the link for books in the Product Lifecycle Management Library

Configuration Management . Product Data Management . Product Lifecycle Management

Autodesk .. CATIA .. Lean .. MicroStation .. Pro/ENGINEER .. Six Sigma .. UGS



The World of Product Lifecycle Management

Follow the links for :

Vendors in the PLM World. Latest additions/modifications : Active Sensing, Inc., FeaturePlan, Perspectix, Telelogic.

PLM service providers. Latest additions/modifications : Cades Digitech, Engineering Management Consult GmbH, Honeycomb Solutions, ITC Mebius.


General Interest

Innovation Management

Engineering Change Management

Managing PDM in a changing environment

Principles of Good Product Development



Page 3
News
* Corporate *
CEA announced it acquired CIMS Software Systems Ltd. Details

Planview announced that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Business Engine. Details

Proficiency, Inc. announced that it has raised an additional $5 million in funding from its current investors, Carmel Ventures and Pitango Venture Capital. Details

RAND Worldwide announced plans to sell a majority interest in certain of its European PLM operations to a European-based Private Consortium. Details

* Financial *
Ansoft Corp. announced financial results for its third quarter of fiscal 2007 ended January 31, 2007. Revenue for the third quarter totaled $22.7 million. Details

ANSYS, Inc. announced total GAAP revenue of $85.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2006; total GAAP revenue of $263.6 million in 2006 as compared to $158.0 million in 2005. Details

Avatech Solutions, Inc. announced financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006. Total revenues totaled $12.4 million. Details

Dassault Systemes reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2006. Fourth quarter GAAP total revenue increased 15% to Euro 349.4 million. Full year GAAP total revenue increased 24% to Euro 1.16 billion. Details

Endeca Technologies, Inc. announced 100 percent year-over-year revenue growth in 2006. Details

Lectra announced revenues for full-year 2006 totaled Euro 216.1 million. Details

NavisWorks Ltd. announced results for 2006 with profits up by more than 1.8 x previous year and revenue up by more than 50%. Details

Stratasys, Inc. announced revenues of $29.7 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2006. Details

UGS Corp. announced fourth quarter 2006 and full year 2006 results. Fourth quarter total revenue increased to US$352.7 million. Full year 2006 total revenue increased to US$1.2 billion. Details

* People *
Cenit announced Fabian Rau will assume the overall responsibility for the operational Marketing and the Investor Relations. Details

Cyco Software announced appointments in their offices in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. Details

Delcam announced the appointment of Ning Jingbo as Sales Director of Delcam China. Details

3D Systems Corp. announced that Gerald J. Pribanic has been appointed interim Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Details

* Implementations *
ASCON announced the availability of a new add-on for KOMPAS-3D. Details

AVEVA announced that Fluor Corporation has selected AVEVA's VNET solution. Details

BigMachines, Inc. announced that Bottomline Technologies has selected the BigMachines CPP (Configure, Price, Propose) solution through the Salesforce.com AppExchange. Details

Catalog Data Solutions announced that International Gas Spring has adopted its CAD model download solution. Details

Catalog Data Solutions announced that Atlas Casters has adopted its CAD model download solution. Details

CMStat announced that IMP Aerospace selected CMstat for CP-140. Details

CoCreate Software Inc. announced use of Model Manager by Starlinger. Details

Elysium announced that the ING Renault F1 Team uses Elysium's CAD data translation tools. Details

Eurostep announced that Share-A-space is to be used in a high profile design-analysis project. Details

Intergraph Corp. announced that COSCO Shipyard Group will deploy the integrated Intergraph Marine Enterprise portfolio. Details

IronCAD announced Darko, Inc has integrated IronCAD into its development cycle. Details

LMS announced that S.A.B.C.A. implemented LMS Test.Lab. Details




10 Critical PLM Facts Every Executive Should Know. Click Here To Download



LMS announced that EADS Corporate Research Center Germany selected LMS Virtual.Lab Acoustics. Details

Mentor Graphics Corp. announced Bell Helicopter has chosen to standardize on Mentor Graphics CHS flow for the design of helicopter electrical wiring systems. Details

PTC announced that ITT Flygt is using PTC Arbortext Dynamic Publishing Software to optimize its content creation and dynamic publishing processes. Details

PTC announced that MAHLE Powertrain Ltd. has selected Windchill PDMLink and Windchill ProjectLink. Details

SOLID Applications Ltd announced that EWAD have chosen to replace their existing PDM implementation with UGS' Teamcenter Express software. Details

Synergis Software announced that AeroSpec Incorporated uses Synergis Adept. Details

Tacton Systems announced that Metso Lindemann GmbH has implemented the Tacton Configurator to support its sales force and streamline the process of generating quotes. Details

UGS Corp. announced that PZ Cussons selected Teamcenter software. Details

UGS Corp. announced that Sichuan Changhong Electric Co., Ltd. has selected UGS Teamcenter product data management (PDM) solution for its PLM backbone. Details

UGS Corp. announced that BIZERBA GmbH & Co. KG will use NX, Teamcenter and Geolus Search software solutions. Details

Valor Computerized Systems Ltd announced it implemented vPlan at Mack Technologies, Inc. Details

VISTAGY, Inc. announced that DEMA Group has selected its FiberSIM composites software. Details

* Developments *
Autodesk, Inc. unveiled the latest versions of its manufacturing solutions. Details

Autodesk, Inc. announced AutoCAD 2008. Details

Autodsys announced AcceliCAD2CAM. Details

Autodsys announced AcceliCAD 2007. Details

AutoSolids, Inc. announced the release of AutoSolids 2007 and AutoSolids EXPRESS 2007. Details

Cranes Software International announced the launch of NISA V 15.0. Details

Dassault Systemes announced the availability of a coupled-analysis capability for fluid-structure interaction utilizing ABAQUS. Details

Dassault Systemes announced three new solutions that improve semiconductor business performance. Details

Delcam announced "design-only" versions of its ArtCAM Pro and ArtCAM JewelSmith software. Details

Lambda Research Corp. announced the latest release of the OSLO lens design software. Details

Lectra announced it unveiled its new generation of value-added solutions specifically developed for fashion professionals. Details

MachineWorks Ltd announced the release of its latest version, MachineWorks v6.4. Details

Metris released version 8.3 of its point cloud based inspection software, Focus Inspection. Details

NavisWorks Ltd. announced the release of a new version of JetStream v5. Details

Open Text Corp. said it will introduce a new solution for life sciences companies that manages regulated documents on proposed new drugs or medical devices in a controlled environment built on the 2007 Microsoft Office system. Details

PTC announced Mathcad 14.0. Details

QUMAS announced the availability of the QUMAS R&D Suite for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Details

QUMAS introduced QUMAS Express. Details

Radan announced that Radan 07 software for sheet metal is now shipping. Details

Theorem Solutions announced the availability of TPM (Theorem Process Manager). Details

Valor Computerized Systems Ltd announced the launch of vPlan. Details

VirtualGrid announced the release of VRMesh v3.5 library. Details

* Relationships *
Computer-Aided Products, Inc. announced that SolidWorks Corp. recognized Computer-Aided Products, Inc. for the highest level of customer satisfaction in North America. Details

Cimmetry Systems and Skire Inc. signed a new ISV agreement extending their long-standing strategic partnership. Details

CoCreate Software, Inc. announced that CoCreate has licensed LightWorks for use within CoCreate OneSpace Modeling 2007. Details

Dassault Systemes announced that INCAT has signed to become a Dassault Systemes VAR. Details

IHS announced IHS Struxure 5 has achieved SAP certified integration. Details

IHS announced it has finalized a Go To Market agreement with SAP America, Inc. Details

LMS announced that LB-acoustics takes on the distributorship of LMS products and services in Austria. Details

McLaren Software announced that it has joined Primavera's Technology Partner Program. Details

Materialise NV and Dimension announced 'Dimension Magics'. Details

MSC.Software announced a new OEM relationship with FEMUTEC GmbH. Details

Seemage and Auto-trol announced a world-wide partnership. Details

TDCI Inc. announced that Merillat Industries, LLC is now shipping their Merillat AutoCAD Design System based on TDCI's BuyDesign Spec-In platform. Details

TDCI, Inc. announced that TDCI and Infor have finalized an OEM agreement whereby Infor will provide TDCI's BuyDesign Configurator as an integrated component of Infor ERP SyteLine, Infor ERP Sxe and Infor eStorefront. Details

Technia and Eurostep announced a partnership to provide solutions based on Share-A-space and PLCS, the ISO standard for product life cycle support. Details

think3 Inc. announced that the company has reinforced its presence in the South Korean market with the addition of its new Master Reseller, Thirdeye Inc. Details

* Other *
Actify Inc. announced it is making headway with its recently released DesignShare 2.0 product. Details

Autodesk, Inc. announced that it has been named to the list of "100 Best Corporate Citizens" in the United States for 2007. Details

Autodesk, Inc. announced that Rapiscan Systems has been named as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for February 2007. Details

AutoForm Engineering GmbH announced two new subsidiary offices - AutoForm Engineering India and AutoForm Engineering Mexico. Details

The CMSC Society announced it will host the Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference (CMSC) 2007 from July 16-20, 2007 in Reno, Nevada. Details


 Product Lifecycle
 Management: Paradigm for 21st Century Product Realisation



Dassault Systemes announced that its solutions CATIA, ENOVIA and DELMIA natively support the International Standards Organization (ISO) standard 16792:2006. The standard establishes requirements and guidelines for documenting product definition in 3D by reusing functional tolerancing and annotations, previously only available in 2D drawings, to increase precision, facilitate collaboration, and reduce costs. Details

Delcam announced it reduced the cost of transferring models from its PowerSHAPE-e CAD system into formats suitable for prototyping and manufacturing. Details

Delcam China announced it opened new offices in Wenzhou and Chongqing. Details

Maxager Technology announced results from a recent survey, which revealed that while many manufacturers believe that it is important to measure the speed at which products are made, very few have systems in place to do so. Details

Metris and SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM, the Japanese Formula One team, announced they have established a long term partnership. Details

QUMAS announced Gartner positioned QUMAS in the Visionary Quadrant in the "Magic Quadrant for Finance Governance, Risk and Compliance Management Software, 2007" report. Details

SolidWorks announced a new way for teachers and potential employers to ascertain students' 3D CAD skills. Details

Tech Soft 3D announced the opening of a European office. Details

think3 announced the opening of a subsidiary in Beijing. Details

Top Systems announced that T-FLEX CAD and all T-FLEX add-on applications now take advantage of the 64-bit architecture of Windows XP and Windows Vista x64 Editions on systems from both Intel and AMD. Details

UGS Corp. and Stony Brook University announced an in-kind software grant with a list price commercial value of $27 million. Details

UGS Corp. announced a partnership with East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Melvin L. "Kip" Holden. The partnership provides an in-kind software grant of UGS' Solid Edge software with a list price, commercial value of $307 million. Details

upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd. released its newest ebook "What's New? AutoCAD 2008". Details

Valor Computerized Systems announced that Frost & Sullivan has awarded the company its 2007 SMT Software Vendor Market Leadership Award. Details

VISTAGY, Inc. announced that unprecedented demand for carbon-fiber composite materials in the aerospace industry will drive similar growth in the use of software for composites design and manufacture, such as FiberSIM. In November 2006, research firm Materials Technology Publications released a report titled, "The Carbon Fibre Industry: Global Strategic Market Evaluation 2006-2010." That report predicts that aerospace and defense now account for 28 percent of carbon-fiber composites use, and that by 2010, Boeing and Airbus alone will account for 15-20 percent of worldwide small tow carbon fiber usage. Details


Page 4
Brief lines


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Copyright 2007 by John Stark. All rights reserved.

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