Title: PLM roadmap: stepwise PLM implementation based on the concepts of maturity and alignment

Authors: R. Batenburg, R.W. Helms, J. Versendaal

Addresses: Institute of Information and Computing Sciences, Utrecht University, P.O. box 80 089, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands. ' Institute of Information and Computing Sciences, Utrecht University, P.O. box 80 089, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands. ' Institute of Information and Computing Sciences, Utrecht University, P.O. box 80 089, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Abstract: Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is increasingly important for organisations acting in dynamic and competitive markets. In practice however, companies struggle with implementing PLM because PLM is a concept rather than a system. Its main premises are to improve sustainable advantage through agility and innovation. The concept implies structural, cross-functional and long-term cooperation between actors in- and outside the firm. This complexity hampers the achievement of successfully implementing PLM that truly integrates all organisational aspects and levels. The central aim of this paper is to develop a PLM framework to assess and guide PLM implementations. This framework builds upon insights from capability maturity and business/IT-alignment. The results of a first empirical assessment of 23 Dutch organisations are presented, which were used to empirically validate the framework and to provide benchmark data. Based on the framework and benchmark organisations can develop their own PLM Roadmap to increase the success of their PLM implementation.

Keywords: benchmarking; business strategies; information technology; alignment; capability maturity; product lifecycle management; PLM; roadmaps.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2006.011053

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2006 Vol.1 No.4, pp.333 - 351

Published online: 06 Oct 2006 *

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