PLM Scope

Overview

To make fair and accurate comparisons, it is important to clearly define the scope of PLM. At the same time it is important to understand that not all companies define the scope of PLM the same way. Some PLM vendors, mainly those who have their origin in CAD, CAM and/or CAE (CAx) and still have these tools in their portfolio, include them in the scope of PLM to be able to report larger revenues. Some industry analysts also include these tools to make the PLM market look bigger. The PLM Technology Guide defines the scope of PLM more narrowly – as illustrated below – and distinguishes four different capability levels: Foundational Capabilities, which correspond to the traditional PDM capabilities, Extended Capabilities, Integration Capabilities and Strategic Capabilities (see also “What is PLM?“).

Implementation

It is generally recommended to start a PLM implementation with the Foundational Capabilities and then to gradually expand the scope to Extended and Integration Capabilities. Finally the scope can be expanded to Strategic Capabilities with the understanding that most of those capabilities require that all Foundational Capabilities as well as some Extended and Integration Capabilities have already been implemented.