Understanding PLM System Concepts to Facilitate Its Implementation in SME: The Real Case Study of POULT

Abstract

In 2012, our research team in partnership with LASCOM (a French PLM software editor) proposed models and an approach to help SMEs when they decide to deploy PLM systems [1, 2]. Our approach was to use formalism based on mind maps to promote exchanges between customer/users and PLM editor. Objective was to facilitate definition of elements that have to be defined, modeled, evaluated and implemented in a software solution to make deployment process more effective. Different real case studies emphasized that our approach have to evolve to be more "customer" centered. In this paper we present one of these real case studies which is in progress. This research collaboration concerns POULT, a manufacturer of biscuits which decided to deploy a PLM solution in few months. We describe the adopted approach to analyze the users' needs and draft the request for proposal which will be send to PLM editors.

Implementation framework for PLM: a case study in the fashion industry

“…To support an efficient introduction of a software, it is important to define a structured implementation method that involves all interested users from the early stages. According to this, a focus has been made on mapping the needs of key users involved in the lifecycle management of products, confirming the attention paid on using a bottom-up strategy [1,15]. Beside this, the proposed framework has been developed to include clear, quantitative and objective guidelines for PLM implementations in real scenarios, due to the evidence that a rigorous procedure to follow increases the successfulness of these processes [2] Moreover, details to the most effective project management approach to be used during the implementation process are given to define how to gain the expected results with the less unneeded efforts.…”