PLM system - Multi-Tier Architecture

Friends,

  

In previous posts we discussed about the overview of PLM, its functions and its path to reach organization’s strategy. Now it is time to understand the technical background of PLM architecture so that it will be helpful to understand the PLM implementation and configuration methodologies in Engineering Domains. As you know PLM tool is a platform for various software tools and varied technology base of an organization and it interacts with different departments in by integrating people and process by the base of centralized and single source of data concept. Now a day’s almost all PLM tools are Multi-tier Architecture.

Multi-Tier architecture is very simple to understand that there will be different Computer server machines connecting each other to run the various modules of PLM tools, let’s say main PLM software for an organization need to serve in different departments requirements and strategy, so there are various modules are split as software modules with respect to varied needs, example: for design department, engineers need CAD software and to manage CAD data there will be s module called PDM CAD Integrations in PLM software, it will mainly manage the data generated from CAD departments. To manage the various BOM; PLM BOM modules will address, for connecting suppliers; PLM Suppliers integration modules, to manage whole project; PLM Project Management modules will address, to work online; PLM Web modules, to store all the information there should be Data Base software to PLM tool integration, to store all the files saving in PLM system there will be File servers.

Like these there are various other modules to address whole Enterprise Requirements, to enhance performance and build strong PLM system, its divided into different layers of PLM modules as Multi-Tier architecture, whatever the configurations and setup of PLM system is in one layer called Servers and the same will reflect to front end users called Clients by connecting through LAN/WAN, this we called 2 Tier Server & Client Architecture, now adding to that there will separate Server Machine to manage the Meta information of data in Data Base Server and all other application services will be installed in one server machine called  Application Server and it will control the other  module  of PLM tools,

And also PLM connects external and internal employees together with same Network WAN/firewall Layer, totally we called PLM System as Multi-Tier Architecture by combining different PLM modules in various servers and network connection.

In next post we will discuss what PLM Implementation is and how it will implement? Who will define the strategy to select PLM to address solutions?

Bye for now,

Anil Kumar J R