Product lifecycle management software, or PLM, used to be an expensive and extremely difficult to implement solution only used by large corporations that had the manpower and financial resources to spare. However, as technology has evolved, PLM has grown smaller and more affordable. In particular, the advent of the cloud has made it so that even small and medium-sized businesses can reap the benefits of data analytics and product management software.
One particular offering that's made headway is Autodesk's PLM 360 cloud-based solution, and according to Roulunds Braking's chief engineer, Mark Lawrence, it could have transformational effects on the way parts manufacturers in the automotive industry run their operations.
"It is a great solution," he says. "The ability to rapidly deploy the system and provide all users with access to real-time data has significantly minimized development errors and improved development time."
Roulunds was an early adopter of Autodesk PLM 360, first using it as a central source of information in 2012. And while Autodesk's cloud offering hasn't quite been a finacially success just yet, CEO Carl Bass says that it's ahead of schedule.
The main advantage offered by PLM 360 is that, for small to medium-sized businesses, it's a cheap and efficient way to get a foot in the software-based solutions door.
The results of the adoption are tangible too. "We've made a lot of lead time gains," Lawrence said, adding as a caveat that would-be adopters "make no mistake about the time it takes to get a fully functional system in place. It's probably harder for large corporations and OEMs, but it's hard enough for a company of our size."
Once a PLM is set up, though, it's apparently smooth sailing. "From the moment you log on, everything is intuitive. I can easily set up a filter and find exactly that one specific part I am looking for. And instead of presenting CAD data, the system generates nice, clear and informative images in an instant," Lawrence concluded.
Roulunds has multiple locations across the globe, and using PLM software has helped it better keep track of its operations across factories and improve its optimization.
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