Product lifecycle management in mass customisation: A technical case study

Well performing product data management (PDM) is essential for industrial companies in multiple ways: assuring good quality in services and products, managing production efficiently and responding to changing customer requirements. The product data itself is generated in different phases of product life cycle, from innovation to the termination of a product. The technology used for managing all the data and business processes during product life cycle is called Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). PLM-process encloses collection, management and distribution of product related data in the whole product life cycle. In practice, companies are challenged by the increase in product data. Meantime, it is well known that the fast evolution in technology has shortened product life cycles whilst the customers tend to require larger product variety. The time-based competition in the markets sets the goals in delivery speed and accuracy at high levels. In order to succeed in satisfying the customers, product development and ramp-up processes need to be shortened and enhanced. A solution for maintaining and increasing the competitiveness can be found in mass customisation in hand with efficient product life cycle management. From the point of view of the product data, this means accurate information sharing between multiple stakeholders. A challenge lies in various business applications, which run different life cycle processes resulting in data dispersion and complexity of data distribution. This paper presents a case study and a solution pilot from the information systems' perspective, emphasising the needs of small and medium-sized industries. Technically the case consists of four integrated operative information systems - such as product data management or enterprise resource planning - whose roles are clearly defined and separated. Seamless, process driven data distribution is achieved by following service oriented architecture. By these means the information systems can enable product life cycle management in mass customisation, where the target is fast and efficient order-fulfilment with wide product variety.