The Opportunities and Challenges of an Integrated Approach to Engineering Systems

The last decade approximately has brought immense change, challenges and opportunities for organizations large, medium and little in how we author and manage product related information. 

Previous to the present , Computer Aided Design (CAM) and Computer Aided manufacturing (CAM) and merchandise Data Management (PDM) had primarily captured the eye of producing companies and their engineering, operations and IT departments. These investments were significant, in terms of the prices of hardware, software, implementation, and training, but the advantages were arguably limited. 

Despite in its infancy within the late 1990’s, by mid-2000’s these capacities are dominated by much broader categories like Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Application Lifecycle Management (ALM), Service Lifecycle Management (SLM) and merchandise Performance Analysis (PPA). At an equivalent time, they need to capture a growing mindshare from organizations outside of the normal manufacturing companies like the retail and insurance industries to call just a couple of .

 The products that the purchasers are demanding more of to satisfy the solutions for his or her problems are electro-mechanical and sometimes interconnected 

In addition, these new capabilities have gained wider interest and acceptance from departments within organizations like sales, marketing, supply chain, service and compliance. 

In parallel to the present , significant change has been happening within the very “bones” that these key technology platforms believe to run and communicate within the sort of ultra-high speed networks, servers also as paradigm shifts the cloud has promoted. These, as you'd expect, have presented both opportunities and challenges.

Today’s companies got to be more efficient, more global, more innovative, and more competitive than ever before in history. The customer’s needs are focused like never before. Thanks to these pressures, organizations are trying to find solutions which will help not only meet the requirements but will provide competitive advantage. 

The products that the purchasers are demanding more of to satisfy the solutions for his or her problems are electro-mechanical and sometimes interconnected. These challenges have and still lead development groups faraway from traditional sorts of design and engineering. Where many companies were primarily focused on mechanical design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and PDM to manage the products, they're now looking toward integrating electronics and software. 

Although not a replacement phenomenon, the needed functionality and adaptability of the products has significantly increased, while at an equivalent time the packaging size requirements are reduced. Form, not just function, are getting more in demand. As a result, traditional engineering systems and processes are being stressed to the verge of collapse in many companies.