Released on: April 19, 2008, 5:15 am

Press Release Author: Thomas R. Cutler

Industry: Marketing

Press Release Summary: Manufacturing Journalist TR Cutler Profiles Role of PLM in
the ETO Environment

Press Release Body: Manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler recently profiled
Product lifecycle management in the engineer-to-order (ETO) environment, in The
Machinist magazine. The entire feature can be read at www.trcutlerinc.com.
According to Cutler, "Product lifecycle management (PLM) is described as the process
of managing the complete lifecycle of a product. It starts with its conception,
covers designing and manufacturing, and includes service and ends at disposal. It
serves as one of the four cornerstones of the IT structure of any corporation. Apart
from managing communications and information with their customers (CRM-Customer
Relationship Management), suppliers (SCM-Supply Chain Management) and the resources
within the enterprise (ERP-Enterprise Resource Planning), all manufacturing
engineering companies need to develop, describe, manage and communicate information
about their products. PLM benefits include a reduced time-to-market, establishing
benchmarks for improved product quality, reduced prototyping costs and savings
through the re-use of original data. "
PLM largely impacts custom, project-based, Engineer-to-Order (ETO) companies. Esin
Ergens's PhD thesis examined the formalization of life cycle information of ETO
components using advanced tracking technologies. Ergen suggested that
material-related information is not readily available in construction supply chains,
which results in inefficiencies in material flow, including wrong deliveries and
lost materials. Unavailability of material information is even more problematic for
ETO components since ETO components (such as precast or pipe spools) are highly
customized, having numerous component-related information items, long lead times and
usually being on the critical path in construction schedules.
ETO Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software providers are designing and
integrating several PLM capabilities into new releases with the objective of
delivering increased effectiveness in product lifecycle management as an integrated
part of the enterprise business software. As demand for new and innovative
technology in the ERP industry grows, so does the need for extending the
capabilities of enterprise technology solutions. Product and lifecycle management
has become increasingly more popular in the manufacturing ERP industry as many of
its attributes cross into both types of software.
Cutler insists, "Industrial customers want to manage the lifecycle of their products
from its conception as a quote, to production and shipment installation, including
support. Through the use of the capabilities of engineering and product lifecycle
management (EPLM), companies are more effectively and efficiently innovating and
managing their products and services throughout the entire lifecycle. Complex
product manufacturers require robust product data management, and extensive access
to engineering information."
About TR Cutler, Inc.:
TR Cutler, Inc. (www.trcutlerinc.com) was founded by Thomas R. Cutler almost a
decade ago. Cutler maintains extraordinary relationships with clients, journalists,
editors, trendsetters, and key business leaders worldwide and has become a key
resource for those writing about the manufacturing sector.
Thomas R. Cutler is the most frequently published manufacturing journalist and
serves as contributed contributing editor more than three hundred publications
annual. The scope of publications ranges from Automation.com to Quality Digest. A
sample of Cutler's feature articles can be located on the TR Cutler, Inc. website.

TR Cutler, Inc.
www.trcutlerinc.com
Thomas Cutler
trcutler@trcutlerinc.com
888-902-0300


Web Site: http://www.trcutlerinc.com

Contact Details: TR Cutler, Inc.
3032 S. Oakland Forest Dr.
Suite 2803
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33309
888-902-0300