Make sure you’re PLM Deployment checklist includes this one item…
In reviewing 20 years of experience in PLM deployments - the time & effort to foster user adoption is almost always underestimated. The impacts are far reaching, users that don’t understand both the how & why of the new approach, extended timelines to achieve ROI – stretching out the already painful trough of disillusionment (see the figure below), and heightened risk of failure. All these could be mitigated given knowledgeable resources that understand the why behind PLM, are skilled at working with the product and can navigate the interaction between the various processes. Successful PLM Deployments need skilled, knowledgeable resources as part of the team. So how do you get that? What does it really take to build expertise and how can you accelerate your path to productivity?
@Wichita State University can tell you. The Digital Twin program at WSU’s @National Institute for Aviation Research is building those resources from the ground up. Through an intensive program, their students not only develop the skills needed to become PLM experts, but obtain practical experience through hands on, real world applications. Starting with modeling and the basics of PLM and then moving into advanced topics around variant configuration, change context and effectivity – a solid foundation of PLM expertise is developed. That is further augmented with a special focus on requirements capture & MBSE including simulation. The end to end scope from requirements/ideation through engineering and into manufacturing make them ideal candidates to be part of a PLM adoption program where they can lead by example, build confidence through competence and accelerate adoption with creative approaches/problem-solving.
Check out these great links (Applied learning abounds within Wichita State’s digital twin program and Applied Learning with the F-16) for more details on the NIAR program and connect with WSU team (Brian McTigue and Shawn Ehrstein) to interview candidates that will help energize your program and accelerate your path to ROI.
