The Need for Improved Integration between PLM and KM: A PLM Services Provider Point of View

Abstract : With widespread use of digital tools in industry, an increasing amount of data and knowledge can be edited, shared and made accessible throughout the product lifecycle. As such, new technologies, that provide a formal framework for managing and organizing the intellectual assets of a business, can significantly influence the application of knowledge and the extent to which this knowledge will serve as a source of sustainable differentiation. Similarly, much suggests that the management of knowledge can positively influence and support the links between individual activities in the value stream, hence enabling the product-centered approach, which is fundamental to product lifecycle management (PLM). This paper draws on our experiences as a PLM and Knowledge Management (KM) supplier and highlights industry examples in aeronautics. It explores the potential application of a combined approach that utilizes digital support to encourage the effective use of KM throughout the product lifecycle.