The PLM Maturity Quadrant Explained

Where does your company operate as you pursue the promise of PLM?

The vdR Group has recently formulated the PLM Maturity Quadrant as illustrated in the diagram below.

The quadrant is comprised of two simple parameters.  The x-axis is referred as the Data Cohesion variable and the y-axis characterizes Process Repeatability.  The top right-hand quadrant represents the ideal PLM environment. 

The Data Cohesion variable considers how well data is connected.  The expression “single source of truth” is often associated with the goals of PLM.  This suggests that users seeking to access part and/or product related data can go to ONE place.  The data doesn’t have to be in a single repository, but linkages need to be in place.

The vertical axis considers the repeatability of an organization’s processes.  On one end of the spectrum, the processes are based on manual and verbal communications and leverage cultural and/or community knowledge and experiences.  One way to assess this would be to ask the question, “What would happen if a key employee was absent today?”  On the top end of the vertical axis shows processes that are highly repeatable.  This tends to suggest a significant level of automation and workflow.  If a key employee were out for the day, the processes may be delayed, but would not be interrupted.

Where does your company operate? 

In our previous webinar held last month, we talked about practical steps to more to the “promise land” of PLM.   You can watch the 30 minute recording here.