Survey reveals gap between manufacturers, vendors view on digital manufacturing technology

A recent survey conducted by Manufacturing Insights, an IDC company, reveals inconsistencies in the perception of value between manufacturers and vendors using and supplying Product Life-Cycle Management (PLM) and Digital Manufacturing (DM) software. Although vendors and manufacturers agree that the most important value of PLM/DM tools is in reducing the number of engineering change orders (ECOs), their perceptions differ regarding other DM components. Manufacturers perceive value in components such as configuration management and product data management (CM/PDM), improving reuse, improving supplier collaboration and design for x (DFX), whereas vendors cite innovation as a major value function of DM.

The purpose of the study, one in a series of reports describing how to incorporate product life-cycle economics (PLE) and define a successful PLM/DM strategy, is to assess the perspective and the maturity of the market adopting PLM/DM solutions.

"The overall PLM/DM software market continues to grow year over year, but is fragmented and there is still a long way to go for both the vendors and manufacturers," says Joe Barkai, director of Product Life-Cycle Strategies for Manufacturing Insights and author of the report. "Manufacturing organizations have yet to reach the appropriate levels of maturity to fully exploit the benefits offered by a complete PLM/DM strategy. Manufacturers and vendors need to work together to define and deliver measurable value. This will, in turn, create a positive return on investment for all involved."

www.manufacturing-insights.com