CIMdata Announces the Completion of Its Recent PLM Status & Trends Research

Findings suggest that it is extremely difficult for industrial users to move PLM beyond traditional Product Data Management topics.

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, 6 March 2018 - CIMdata, Inc., the leading global PLM strategic management consulting and research firm, announces the completion of its research in to the current status and trends related to the product lifecycle management (PLM) economy.

The goal of the research was to deepen the PLM community's collective understanding of the status, drivers, and preconditions necessary for companies to derive value from their investment in PLM. A web-based survey was developed to identify the key issues.

Significant findings show that:

• Industrial companies continue to struggle to move their PLM implementations beyond traditional product data management (PDM) topics, such as engineering data management, engineering change and change management, configuration management, and workflow management.
• The value and importance of PLM is still primarily being seen by the engineering function.
• The pursuit of future topics, such as AI and machine learning, are still more than five years away for most of the survey respondents.

According to Mr. Peter Bilello, CIMdata's President, "Many of the research findings are heavily weighted towards the traditional aspects of PLM, which is consistent with CIMdata's experience with its industrial clients. Survey responses indicate that industrial companies find PLM to be worth the investment and that PLM budget trends show a continued investment in the near term. The major challenges facing users going forward are the confusion surrounding the overlapping processes and functions of enterprise systems (PLM, ERP, and MES), as well as cultural issues."

For more information on this research contact CIMdata at: info@CIMdata.com.

About CIMdata

CIMdata, a leading independent worldwide firm, provides strategic management 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 in 1983, 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 providers of technologies and services seeking competitive advantage in the global economy. In addition to consulting, CIMdata conducts research, provides PLM-focused subscription services, and produces several commercial publications. The company also provides industry education through PLM certificate programs, seminars, and conferences worldwide. CIMdata serves clients around the world from offices 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 at Oogststraat 20, 6004 CV Weert, The Netherlands, Tel: +31 (0) 495.533.666.