Creating a Profession for PLM Practitioners
 
 

The Home of Professional PLM

The PLM industry needs a recognised, worldwide professional structure for the people who work within it. The Professional PLM Initiative has been set up to fulfil this need.

 

 

The Initiative covers the whole spectrum of what it means to be 'professional' in PLM.  This will be a significant step forward, and will change the way that PLM practitioners work.

 

 

The Initiative is inclusive and interactive.  This web site shows the latest developments, and how you can get involved.

 
 
 

Professional PLM - Deliverables
 

Professional PLM - Deliverables

 

The Professional PLM Initiative will produce all of the documents, specifications and tools that are necessary to define the scope and activity of Professional PLM.

Everything to do with how to act professionally as a PLM practitioner must be defined and agreed.

There need to be metrics and certification that can demonstrate that professionalism is being applied; and these can then be developed to establish a global professional structure.

This will involve the participation of many PLM practitioners from many countries.

 
 

Professional PLM - Deliverables
 

 

%% Edit or Delete... >> New PLM Deliverables

The Professional PLM Initiative will generate a complete set of deliverables to establish a well-defined, internationally-recognised professional structure.  These include:-

 

 
Fundamentals of Professionalism. How to act in a professional way as a PLM practitioner.
 
Definition of PLM roles and skill sets. These will help with recruitment and retention of staff, help new managers move into PLM, and enable PLM Managers to move onwards to more senior roles in other disciplines.
 
Standard material for HR. HR departments will have clear definitions of how PLM roles fit into the wider organisation, at all levels from graduate to VP.
 
Body of Knowledge. Definition of the core knowledge required for the various PLM practitioner roles.
 
Maturity and Metrics.  Identification of KPIs for PLM activity, leading to the ability to prove good performance.
 
Development of criteria for certification of PLM skills and experience. Vendors and integrators will be able to demonstrate the calibre of their staff on client proposals. 
 
Definition of outline PLM training curricula, leading to global consistency in PLM education and training.

The full set of material is shown on the PLM Deliverables Page.  By taking part in one of the four ways below, you can see, comment on and make use of the new material to professionalise your own implementation as the wave of improvement continues.

 
 

Professional PLM - Deliverables
 

 

Roadmap

The current Roadmap is underpinned by the work of an industry-based Steering Group guiding the Initiative over a 3-year timeframe.

In parallel with this, there are plans for the Fraunhofer-led Consortium to form an Expert Committee that may be extended into an International PLM Panel of expert volunteers.

These new groups will support and direct the Work Programme.  At the end of 2021 there will be a pan-Initiative decision about how the new Professional Body may be set up in 2024.

 
 

Professional PLM - Deliverables
 

 

Work Programme

The Work Programme is based around the dynamic creation, publishing and review of all of the material needed to construct the workings of a profession.  The PLMIG is the driving force for this, supported by the Working Group and directed by the Steering Group.

In Phase 1 the primary documents and deliverables are released for the first time to Correspondents and Associates, who provide their input and feedback.

This sets up the platform for Phase 2, in which a short series of international Workshops are held so that PLM practitioners can hammer out the details in a constructive, neutral environment.

Phase 3 is where it all comes together.  All of the Phase 1 deliverables will have been fleshed out at the Workshops, and the Correspondents and Associates will add their feedback as they are finalised.  The Steering Group leads the Initiative throughout, advising on the detailed issues and setting in motion the actions that will lead to the new Professional Body for PLM.

 
 

Professional PLM - Deliverables
 

 

Sequence of Deliverables

Phase 1

During Phase 1 a steady stream of new documents and deliverables will be provided to Correspondents and Associates for their feedback and early use.  The sequence is likely to be:-

 

Fundamentals of Professionalism

What is 'Professionalism', and what is a Profession? How to act professionally as a PLM practitioner. How to set professional standards for a PLM implementation.

Roles and Skill Sets

Skill sets and experience levels for the main PLM practitioner roles. Comparison with existing levels. Remediation.

Body of Knowledge

Definition of the core Body of Knowledge inherent in the various PLM practitioner roles.

Maturity Matrix

Measurement of adoption and implementation Maturity. Professional requirements and standards for progress. Use of the Matrix to initiate improvement projects.

Metrics and KPIs

Metrics and KPIs to measure and confirm professional implementation. Demonstration of due diligence.

Culture Change

How to embed PLM into the company culture. Education of non-PLM colleagues to accept PLM, and understand PLM issues.

Certification and Training

PLM Training curricula for the PLM Team. How to satisfy training requirements. Training for users, managers and non-PLM colleagues. Certification of internal staff. Qualification of external suppliers.

Career Path

How to become a PLM practitioner. How to be effective. How to advance between PLM roles. How to move upwards to other fields.

 

 

Phase 2

Phase 2 sees the transition to a new level of detail and accuracy, with international, co-ordinated Workshops to review, enhance and refine the set of draft material.

Workshops

Structured 3-day Workshops to develop the Professional PLM material from Phase 1 into full detail.

 

 

Phase 3

Phase 3 completes the process.  All of the deliverables, updated by the Workshops and by the Steering Group input, are released to the Correspondents and Associates who can provide the final feedback and adjustments.

Updates to Correspondents & Associates

Issue of the final-draft material, updated by the Workshop results, to Correspondents and Associates for further feedback.

Formation of the Professional Body

Steering Group creates the terms of reference and working structure of the Professional Body.

 

  
 

Professional PLM - Navigation
 

 

Ways to Participate

There are 4 ways of participating in the Professional PLM Initiative, offering a range of levels of interaction.

 

 
Correspondence Package
Receive all of the deliverables as they are published.  Write back with suggestions for change or improvement, and correspond while these changes are enacted.
 
Associate
Receive the new material while it is still at the draft stage, and add input before it is first released.
 
Working Group
Actively support the new PLM profession by helping to produce the new material, adding direct input to the Initiative.
 
Steering Group
With other PLM industry leaders, be part of the high-level Steering Group that will provide guidance and direction to the Initiative.

PLM practitioners from any country in the world, in any kind of organisation, can apply the new material in their own implementations in a steady stream of releases and updates through to the end of 2020.

So far, PLM practitioners from over 30 countries have endorsed the Professional PLM Initiative.  If adoption of this new material is similarly widespread, it will shape the future of the PLM industry for years to come.

The sooner you participate, the sooner you can add your input to the deliverables.  You can find full details here, and if you would like more information you can contact Roger Tempest via .

How to Participate >>>



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