The Different Evolutionary Stages of ERP and PLM
Predrag Jakovljevic & Jim Brown - October 9, 2003

The State of the PLM Market

Given the relative immaturity of the product lifecycle management (PLM) movement, PLM often means different things to different people. Namely, due to its deep engineering roots from the 1980s, it still often gets confused with computer aided design (CAD) and/or product data management (PDM) systems. While CAD involves the use of high-resolution graphics in a wide range of product design activities, allowing quick evaluation and modification of the designer’s intent, PDM systems are merely vaults for storing and updating data, which replace paper-based processes and information storage with a single, centralized data repository that enables authorized users throughout a company to access and update current product information, while ensuring they follow specific procedures. Some might have even noticed the similarities between PDM and groupware or knowledge management (KM) technology appropriate to a range of other business environments, given that besides ensuring data integrity using relational database technology, both include workflow and Web-based applications that facilitate collaboration efforts...