Collaboration management and extended enterprise

Collaboration should focus on :

• Organizations and people
• Practices and methods
• Data
• Information technology

Organizations and people :

A PLM project provides a structural framework, but it will not obscure the cultural discrepancies and habits of the individuals working together:

• Collaboration among internal and external participants;
• Collaboration among different business groups speaking different languages.

Human factors can impede collaboration. People must subscribe to the new approach, and  they may require training (this includes subcontractors). Additionally, formalizing collaboration often reveals new roles and responsibilities within the organization.

Practices and methods :

Collaboration protocols, which can sometimes be contractual with a client, subcontractor, or partner, must be clearly defined in one or more processes generally involving several phases:

• Selection of data to be exchanged
• Data availability
• Validation
• Consolidation / Completion

Data :

An accurate data model is needed to support these exchanges, and mastering this model is the basis for collaboration.

Information technologies :

The large number of participants, internal and external, often requires managing a large set of tools. This involves using exchange protocols, defining exchange formats and data, and introducing of an appropriate software architecture:

• Conventional document exchange
• Collaboration through the use of a digital template
• Collaboration around BOM (design and/or manufacturing)
• Collaboration steered by ECO or ECR
• Collaboration portal

In all the above cases, collaboration is supported by software tools that will first have to be identified, including their version and exchange format.

PCO Innovation will advise and accompany you in the implementation of PLM  best practices.

A PLM approach provides a structural framework based on “best practices” :

Organizations and people :

• Define the type of organization needed for collaboration: dedicated roles, new responsibilities, and new activities.
• Effectively manage organizational change management and business transformation: communication, involvement of participants in the collaboration, and training.
• Preliminary work is sometimes needed to prepare the organization for change.

Practices and methods :

• Establish internal and external collaborative processes.
• Define a data repository that supports collaboration.
• Identify exchange data and activities.
• Distribute responsibilities within the organization.
• Conduct processes securely

Data :

• Unique data identifier.
• Share and distribute data in a complex network.

Information technologies:

• Set up an appropriate architecture based on available PLM solutions.
• Define a product repository and identify data that supports collaboration.
• Define formats that support collaboration.
• Secure sharing.