Plural Technology Private Limited
Implementation
Once a PLM roadmap is in place, the next step is to implement the PLM technology with desired business processes. Our agile team with two decades of experience across industries implementing major PLM technologies like PTC Windchill, Aras closely work with partners and customers to achieve their PLM goals.
Approach
Our team ensures consistent communication across Business and IT teams to achieve the timeline set at the digital transformation program level.
Business Sprint
- Business teams discuss as-is processes and systems
- Understanding and prioritizing current systems to modernize/upgrade
- Our PLM consultants facilitate and support the discussions with Product owners and Managers
- Pick and refine the business processes based on prioritization agreed upon. The outcome is standard and harmonized processes
- Create user stories with appropriate acceptance criteria that can be consumed by the IT Development team
- Conduct retrospectives to assess what worked well and the areas for improvement
- PLM consultants shall analyze business requirements to showcase the business processes that can be achieved using the out-of-box functionality of the PLM platform
- High level architecture and solutions shall be provided for those that need to be customized and which cannot be achieved using out-of-the-box features of the PLM platform
- The IT team shall analyze inputs from Fit gap analysis sessions and prepare the detailed design
- The detailed design shall be showcased to the Technical/Product teams for approval and go-ahead for the IT development
IT Development Sprint
Sprint Planning
- Defining IT user stories for specific PLM functionalities such as Product Design Management, Bill Of Materials (BOM), Change Management, based on business user stories
- Prioritization of tasks based on business value, customer requirements, and project milestones
- Each sprint is designed to deliver a working increment of the PLM solution
Daily Stand-up
- Brief daily meetings with the team to track progress, identify blockers, and ensure continuous alignment
- This promotes transparency and monitors the ongoing status of project implementation closely
Sprint Reviews and Retrospectives
- At the end of each sprint, the functionality delivered is demonstrated to the product owner, to gather feedback, and adjust the backlog to the next sprint
- Conducting retrospectives to assess what worked well and areas for improvement, with a focus on continuous enhancement of collaboration and delivery
Backlog Refinement
- The product backlog, which contains all PLM features (e.g., workflows, material libraries, design tools), is continually updated based on evolving needs and technological advancements
- This ensures that the project remains adaptable to the dynamic nature of product lifecycles, supplier integrations, and market shifts
User-Centric Focus
- Continuous feedback is gathered from product managers and end-users (designers, manufacturers, suppliers) to ensure the PLM system addresses real-world challenges
- Regular updating of functionalities related to workflows, product development stages, and digital asset management to reflect the latest user needs
Benefits
Faster Time to Market
Iterative Scrum development process accelerates the development of PLM modules by supporting various functions, providing high visibility, and enabling senior management to make strategic adjustments and meet market deadlines more quickly.
Flexibility & Adaptability
The Agile approach supports frequent adjustments to changing product development needs. For instance, if a customer requires a modification in product line management or integration with external systems, it can be prioritized and delivered in upcoming sprints without disrupting the overall project timeline.
Enhanced Collaboration
Daily communication between cross-functional teams (e.g., developers, designers, and product owners) encourages a collaborative environment, ensuring all stakeholders are on the same page. This is critical for managing complex PLM processes that often involve multiple departments.
Continuous Improvement
Regular retrospectives provide opportunities for teams to improve their processes, reduce inefficiencies, and optimize workflows. This results in smoother integration of new features, such as those related to digital libraries, materials, and production timelines.
Customer-Centric Solutions
By involving Product owners and Managers in the sprint reviews and feedback loops, PLM solutions are directly aligned with customer needs, minimizing the risk of building unnecessary or less valuable features.
Risk Mitigation
The incremental approach of Agile allows for early detection of potential risks: Technical, Functional, or related to user adoption. Continuous feedback from users enables the team to make quick adjustments before issues arise.