Choosing the Right PLM Software: Key Points to Consider

Imagine a scenario at a leading medical device manufacturing company: a group of product leaders, engineers, and manufacturing professionals at a New Product Introduction (NPI) planning meeting. The project is ambitious, aiming to set new industry standards. However, they face challenges in coordinating across various departments – managing the process of design controls, regulatory requirements, Bill of Materials (BOM) management, and change management across the product lifecycle, among others.

Key Challenges Across the Product Lifecycle

During the meeting, the leaders jotted down the top few challenges:

• Legacy single-process systems and spreadsheets were slowing down the product development process
• Lack of proper visibility of product data across the lifecycle was the primary reason for not only inefficiencies but also added product risk
• Decision-makers were struggling to keep track of the latest product designs, requirements, and engineering changes
• Product quality processes were “siloed” resulting in poor end-product quality
• There were no standardized controls in place across the product development lifecycle
• Product development processes (and product data) were not properly “connected” with other systems such as ERP, supplier management, MES (manufacturing excellence system), etc.

These challenges underline the need for effective Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software that can streamline processes, enhance collaboration, and ensure compliance.

In today's fast-paced, innovation-driven industries like medical devices and manufacturing, selecting the right PLM software is pivotal. The choice you make can significantly impact your product's journey from vision to production.

Use the following checklist to figure out if the PLM software you’re choosing is right for your context.

Checklist for Selecting the Right PLM Software

#1 - Does it streamline BOM Management?

A robust PLM system should offer automated, modern BOM management capabilities - allowing for accurate tracking of materials and components throughout the product development process.

#2 - Are engineering change orders (ECOs) easy to manage and coordinate?

Change is inevitable in product development. Your PLM software should facilitate seamless engineering change orders (ECOs) and associated steps including changes in design, materials users, supplier management, etc.

#3 - Product data visibility

The ability to consolidate data from various systems (like ERP and MES) and provide a unified view of product data is essential for informed decision-making. Key questions to ask here:

• Does your PLM integrate with all manufacturing and product processes?
• Does it connect design controls with the rest of the PLM lifecycle?
• Does it have integrated product risk management and quality management capabilities?

#4 - Does it enable efficient manufacturing process design?

The software should support the design and optimization of manufacturing processes, enabling efficient production planning and execution.

#5 - Master parts/items lifecycle management

Managing the lifecycle of parts and items is crucial. The right PLM software should provide comprehensive tools to manage this aspect effectively.

#6 - CAD integration

Integration with CAD systems ensures that design data is seamlessly incorporated into the PLM environment, fostering better collaboration and design accuracy.

#7 - You need a PLM that is modern, cloud-based and collaborative

A cloud-based PLM is critical to drive cross-functional collaboration across locations. Product data visibility becomes easier with a solution built on the modern cloud. Other important factors include: scalability (both user growth and addition of new functionality), flexibility and configurability of the solution, and all of this becomes easier with a cloud-based solution.

#8 - Risk and compliance management

Managing risks and ensuring compliance is non-negotiable, especially in industries like medical devices. Your PLM system should have robust features to address these needs.

#9 - Cycle time reduction and efficiency

Look for features that help in reducing cycle times and increasing overall development efficiency, such as advanced analytics and workflow automation. Does the PLM software have AI and data analytics capabilities? This is going to become more and more critical going forward.

#10 - Traceability and feedback incorporation

The system should offer traceability throughout the product development process and facilitate the incorporation of feedback to avoid costly rework.

The right PLM can be a game-changer

Selecting the right PLM software is a strategic decision that influences your product's success.

With CQ’s ProductQuest, you’ll get a PLM solution that is:

• Harmonized, “connected” and easy to use
• Seamless product data visibility
• Integrated design controls, document management, and quality control
• Reliable, secure – and data security is taken care of at the platform level
• Intelligent automation to drive efficiency and streamline workflows/coordination

Additionally, ComplianceQuest’s platform has embedded AI technologies and advanced analytics. Every user across the organization can benefit from applied AI use cases and smart recommendations that make everyday tasks much easier.

To find out more about CQ PLM, visit: https://www.compliancequest.com/product-lifecycle-management-plm/