In one of my recent interaction with an OEM, I have been asked many
questions over Program, Product Portfolio Management area, and I discussed and
done well with questions.
After many rounds of deep discussions with OEM senior members, I got the
clear view with PPM domain and I am able to fix and I can accommodate
PPM domain exactly with PLM layer.
In my last two
assignments I got to work rigorously with Project Management area to establish
tight integration system across cross functional teams by using PLM Project Management
Platform. SOW is clearly said to collaborate new product development (nPD) processes
along with various product ranges of the client.
Developing a New
Product in a controlled system for minimum or few product ranges is quiet
lesser complex compared many product line portfolios. An organization with many
such product ranges as per market segments have more projects and teams to
development and deliver to market.
In the context of
R&D focused nPD processes PLM gives an opportunity to establish strong PDM
area with Design Data innovation tools (CAD, CAM, FEM, Simulation etc.) to
generate and manage IP, Change Management Processes within and across product
development groups. This layer of PLM controls, manages the technical processes
like APQP, DFMEA, DFA & DFM, ECO, ECR, PSR, Quality Audits, PPAP, Product
Costing Processes, RFQ, etc. and one can manage information for many such
product ranges with focus to R&D. With the above processes meant for
R&D and many cases maximum time technical persons are involved to deliver
products as per their plan.
Presently the
globalization trend pushing every organization to deliver product on time to
market with quality, innovative, attractive and economical parameters in mind.
So organizations' executives look the product development and R&D as main
business strategically units to look over the each and every projects and
processes to control the system to meet the globalization challenges.
So here is the
solution PPM (Product Program Portfolio Management). PPM manages and controls
the information and processes flow in business strategically way and gives the
scope of executing Projects for small to big, market to segments product ranges
development projects.
PPM controls the
individual projects, multiple projects under one market segments or many
market segment & as per industries categories. PPM is total end to end
Project Management solution, acts as governing processes for many sub processes
inside various groups of an organization.
Example: R&D looks mainly into Technical
info and innovation of product with various processes. Costing group looks for
product costing optimization, SCM looks for all suppliers processes, Purchasing
looks for material procurement, marketing looks for VOC, customer
feedback, orders and Planning and Production looks for execution of orders,
operations, Inventory processes etc.
All the above
examples for Cross functional teams should work close and collaboratively to
meet business and globalization challenges.
Here PPM comes and
integrate all these processes as set of tasks in phased manners for single and multiple
projects across organization product ranges. PPM gives clear view of Project
Scope and integration areas, total project duration, Resource management,
allocation, Quality norms, Project Risks, Financial, budgeting and slighter
finance forecasting, communication across cross functional teams & whole
project status and Reporting etc.
In my experience,
many organizations not providing much attention and importance in PPM and many
group leaders, seniors intentionally do not wanted to be part of such PPM
solutions in their Information Systems (IS) like PLM, ERP, Project Management
tools.
Reasons are many more and few are pretty straight and simple that,
One do not want to come under processes controlled system,
Lack of confidence in executing many projects and deliver on time,
One thinks everything under track for every set activities and information
will be clear transparency, chance of getting exposed for minor mistakes,
Egoism to work under one controlled system and one administration
of project base system, Etc. etc.
I strongly recommend organizations to adapt PPM solution and use effectively in PLM, ERP or in any of IS system to get good ROI and market grip.
Thanks,
Anil
