TCO of PLM – Impressions from the ProSTEP-iViP
Symposium 2014
On May
13-14, 2014, my favorite PLM conference in Germany took place in the Berlin
Congress Center at the Alexanderplatz.
I’ve been attending this conference for
the last 20 years and represent NTT DATA in the ProSTEP-iViP association. This
year was another success, with more than 500 participants. Dassault and Brose
were the main sponsors, NTT DATA actively contributed with a booth and a
presentation.
Total cost of ownership of PLM
In a joint
presentation with Airbus, we reported on a project to create a TCO model for
PLM. Following the motto “you can’t
manage what you can’t measure”, the Airbus PLM TCO model was created in
order to steer changes of the PLM architecture by understanding the TCO impact
of alternatives. In order to create detailed cost models for PROJECT mode, but
more importantly for RUN mode, we reviewed algorithmic estimation models based
on COCOMO, e.g. COSYSMO (systems engineering) and COCOTS (COTS
commercial-off-the-shelf). These models provide insight into the significant
differences between custom-developed PLM solutions vs. COTS. The concept of
“technical debt” was presented as a major factor in TCO and obsolescence
control. Early investments into PLM software quality as well as preventive and
perfective maintenance activities are the main levers to manage technical debt.
ProSTEP-iViP goes global
Although the ProSTEP-iViP asscociation was
founded as a German entity, the mission of enabling global collaboration and
standardization requires global reach. In 2014, the ramp-up of relationships
with Japan is the first priority. A meeting with Toyota on topics such as the JT neutral, lightweight geometry format and the code of PLM openness (CPO) confirmed this priority. As NTT DATA, we are
looking into opportunities to support this mission with our Japanese
colleagues.PS: this is a cross-posting from the original post in the NTT DATA blog
