Business Value Analysis of Solutions for Product Data Integration
Mission
The increasing demands being made on suppliers and manufacturers in almost all branches of industry necessitate the use of process-oriented, technical standards for product data communication. However, in light of today’s slender budgets, solutions for the exchange of data throughout the entire product lifecycle must also make sense from an economic point of view. Ever since the end of the dot.com boom, investments in information technology (IT) are subjected to particularly critical examinations.
Therefore, at the end of 2003, a project was set up with the aim of creating a harmonized method that will provide proof of the economic efficiency of data integration solutions.
Milestones 2004
Just six months into the project, the subject matter dealt with in the project and the work performed was presented to a wider public at the ProSTEP iViP Symposium 2004 in Sindelfingen in both a plenary presentation and a workshop. Both events generated a great deal of interest which goes to prove that economic efficiency is a “hot” topic.
Other workshops provided an opportunity to act on the suggestions made by those attending the symposium, and the business case methodology for PLM solutions that was drawn up in the first step was expanded. Many companies view the compilation of quantitative and qualitative benefits and measurement criteria relating to the use of PLM solutions as a worthwhile goal. An appropriate tool will be made available to members of the ProSTEP iViP Association.
The advantages that the methodology promised were confirmed by the participants in this workshop. All aspects deemed relevant were covered.
Outlook 2005
In 2005, economic feasibility evaluation should continue to be pushed – directly within member companies. The ProSTEP iViP Association will provide active support to interested members with regard to evaluating the economic feasibility of product data integration solutions.