PLM: A Necessity

PLM is becoming a necessity for companies that want to compete based on innovation in the global business environment. A key aspect of delivering innovative products and processes is connecting your own systems and the systems of suppliers to encourage collaboration and data exchange in a secure and scalable environment. In order to create these connections, companies must now require their suppliers and their own IT departments to provide open solutions. The enterprise goal is to exploit their existing systems and data, as well as keep their future investment open to new developments. Systems that can couple and exchange information easily are required inside the walls of the enterprise and beyond.

Siemens PLM Software customers demand openness. This is what they tell us:

• We want to use best-in-class solutions for specific business processes (workflows), including commercial, legacy and proprietary systems.
• We must share and re-use knowledge and our current intellectual capital throughout our enterprise.
• We must innovate in extended communities as a result of joint ventures, outsourcing, mergers and acquisitions, with common processes.
• We must deploy technology in a common architecture and infrastructure.

The 5 Requirements of PLM Open

To meet these goals, PLM solutions require both open business practices and open technology.  These requirements are captured by the 5 requirements of PLM Open: an open business model, open data model, open architecture, open applications, and open communications for innovation.

Open Business Model The foundation of an open strategy is an open business model. But even open technology is not effective if it is locked behind restrictive legal agreements and business practices. One example of the Siemens PLM Software commitment to the open business model is the PLM Components family of products. These products include some of the industry's most widely used component software and development toolkits, as well as industry initiatives that support and promote these open solutions. The vast majority of the world's CAD, CAM, CAE and PLM developers - including many of Siemens PLM Software's competitors - rely on one or more of the PLM Components to enable their applications' functionality.

Open Data Model Siemens PLM Software believes companies must own and control their data. This is in stark contrast to other PLM vendors who do not publish, and in some cases encrypt, the data their customers put in their systems; preventing access, re-use and long term archiving. An open data model enables system interoperability, resulting in enterprise and value chain connectivity. Siemens PLM Software open data models include:

• JT: This widely-adopted 3D data format is the de facto standard and used throughout the global manufacturing industry for product visualization, collaboration and data sharing.
• PLM XML: This is a lightweight, extensible and flexible mechanism for transporting high-content product data. PLM XML facilitates product lifecycle interoperability using XML. It is open and based on standard W3C XML schemas.

Open Architecture On top of the open data model, Siemens PLM Software builds an open architecture. This architecture enables integration with other enterprise and legacy systems. Examples include integrating Siemens PLM Software products with customer-specific business systems or industry-specific applications.

Open Applications Open applications can be customized with user-friendly programming and customization tools to help companies extend and tailor solution capabilities to their specific needs. Examples include:

• Customers using Siemens PLM Software's APIs to add functionality, optimize work flows and integrate with in-house and legacy systems.
• Customers creating high level, process specific wizards and automation to boost productivity.
• Customers optimizing user interfaces to implement in-house design standards and best practices.

Open Communities for Innovation Consistent with our customer-focused model, Siemens PLM Software is involved in or leads Open Communities to drive innovation at the top tier for our open model. Examples include:

• Customers coming together with Siemens PLM Software to discuss and address vertical (Automotive Steering Group, AIAG, JAMA) and horizontal (JT Open) industry challenges.
• Siemens PLM Software supporting and leading the adoption of standards to the benefit of customers.
• The Siemens PLM Software partner program.

Building the PLM system on these 5 requirements creates a best-in-class environment that promotes seamless interoperability and data sharing. Accelerate business growth and innovation with Siemens PLM Software’s Open PLM technology and take advantage of the investments in technology, people, processes and infrastructure that are already providing competitive advantage. Openness is the key to allowing companies to choose the best application to meet their needs and compete in the global business environment.