Ten Questions to Ask PLM Solution Suppliers a New White Paper from CIMdata


ANN ARBOR, Michigan, September 16, 2010-CIMdata, the leading global PLM management consulting and research firm, announces the availability of new white paper that discusses questions every company should ask potential PLM solution suppliers. While there are many questions that need to be addressed, this paper focuses on ten critical questions that CIMdata believes every company should ask their potential PLM solution supplier. The answers received should provide significant insight into how the supplier's solution will address the company's critical business requirements related to PLM. It is important to note that the ten questions presented herein have been validated through CIMdata's experiences and interviews of industrial companies regarding their PLM implementations. These interviews focused on the questions that they either asked, or later realized they would have benefited from asking the PLM solution suppliers considered.

For each of these questions, it is important to know: (1) Does the solution supplier provide such a capability; and more importantly, (2) How do they deliver that capability? The "how" is the critical factor. While multiple PLM solution suppliers may provide similar functionality and/or capability, how that functionality is delivered and how well it will work in your business and technical environments is what must be ultimately understood and appreciated. CIMdata discusses the importance of each question-why you should ask it. We then give guidance on evaluating the response of a supplier to the question-what you need to find out.

Selecting the PLM solution supplier that can best meet your business requirements can be a difficult process. Asking the right questions can help you better understand both your needs and a supplier's ability to meet them. This white paper will help you understand what you need to know to select and deploy the most effective solution for your needs. For more information please contact CIMdata at +1(734) 668-9922. Copies of the "Ten Questions to Ask PLM Solution Suppliers" white paper are available at no cost through the CIMdata website.

About PLM

CIMdata defines PLM as a strategic business approach that applies a consistent set of business solutions in support of the collaborative creation, management, dissemination, and use of product definition information across the extended enterprise from concept to end of life-integrating people, processes, business systems, and information. PLM forms the product information backbone for a company and its extended enterprise.

About CIMdata

CIMdata, an independent worldwide firm, provides strategic consulting to maximize an enterprise's ability to design and deliver innovative products and services through the application of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions. Since its founding more than 25 years ago, CIMdata has delivered world-class knowledge, expertise, and best-practice methods on PLM solutions. These solutions incorporate both business processes and a wide-ranging set of PLM enabling technologies.

CIMdata works with both industrial organizations and suppliers of technologies and services seeking competitive advantage in the global economy. In addition to consulting, CIMdata conducts research, provides PLM-focused subscription services, delivers PLM Certificate classes, and produces several commercial publications. The company also provides industry education through international conferences. CIMdata serves clients worldwide from locations in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

To learn more about CIMdata's services, visit our website at www.CIMdata.com or contact CIMdata at:

3909 Research Park Drive,

Ann Arbor,

MI 48108,

USA.

Tel: +1 (734) 668-9922.

Fax: +1 (734) 668-1957,

or

Siriusdreef 17-27,

2132 WT Hoofddorp,

The Netherlands.

Tel: +31 (0)23 568-9385.

Fax: +31 (0)23 568-9111.

For more information contact:

Karen Miller,

Administrative Assistant

Tel: +1 (734) 668-9922

Kenneth B. Amann,
Director of Research
Tel: +1 (734) 668-9922

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