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* Welcome * Welcome to 2PLM, an e-zine distributed about every two weeks. This issue includes :
by Scott Cleveland Terry Schurter of IPAPI says that, while BPM stands for "Business Process Management", the definitions of Business Process Management in use in the marketplace have dramatic differences in their meanings. The definition comes from the person or organization using the term as they place "BPM" within the context that they care about. The biggest disparity exists between the commercial software market and the business pundits who define BPM in completely different ways. On a historical note, BPM did indeed start as a management practice, coming directly out of the more experienced practitioners of Business Process Reengineering. From these people, Business Process Management was originally conceived of as a way to better manage the business operations of large commercial entities. Our Thoughts.... In its simplest form, BPM is the art or science of managing business processes. As Terry says, BPM started as a management practice. If you think about it, most business processes come into being almost by accident. A new company that wants to produce goods or services will come up with a plan to accomplish that feat. That plan will likely identify the steps of a process. Over time, those involved in the production of goods and services will modify the plan - change, add or remove steps. The objective of managing your business processes is to be efficient as possible. A company tries to provide goods or services in as few steps as possible. They want all of the steps to add value to the goods or services. They want low costs so that they can achieve larger profits. And, it is in their best interest to provide the most positive interaction with their customers. I see three different levels of solutions.
Your Thoughts.... Scott Cleveland is VP Sales & Marketing, Ingenuus Software. 
* Standards in PLM? * by Lion Benjamins Questions were raised recently in one of the PLM Linked-In groups on whether it wasn't time to address the issues of standards in PLM. This comes at a most opportune time and we should sit up and pay attention. PLM as we knew it is about to change and reach new dimensions. Gone are the days when series of products were identified only through serial numbers stamped or printed on the chassis at the end of the production line. It has become possible not only to uniquely identify individual components and assemblies, and keep track of them during their entire lifecycle, but also to keep track of the internal and external circumstances that exist at any one time. This 'lifecycle event data' can consist of sensor data such as temperatures or pressure variations, but also identify machine operators or a change in location. Data can come from a product's environment or from within itself. The concepts of "Item Attendant ICT" and "the Internet of Things" have become a reality, allowing items to be networked and to be able to communicate information about themselves to other items and computer systems on a global and commercial scale. Open architecture extensions and standards will be required in order to provide a secure and flexible infrastructure for this information exchange. "The Internet of Things" will affect your business. The Open Group will address the architecture and standards issues involved at The Open Group London Conference, 29th April 2009. See also Tech standards loom as last hurdle to the internet of things. |
