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CIMdata, the leading global Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) management consulting and research firm announces a new research paper focused on the global industrial machinery market. Entitled “The Next Industrial Revolution,” the research describes the business, product development, and information technology challenges faced by competitors in the industrial machinery market.
Estimated at over $400 billion in 2011, the global industrial machinery market includes a wide range of segments, including: machine tools; heavy machinery, such as mining and construction equipment; farm machinery; packaging machinery; paper industries machinery; air conditioning refrigeration and heating machinery; printing trades machinery; food products machinery; and textile machinery. Based on data from CIMdata’s annual PLM market survey, industrial machinery is one of the largest markets for investment in PLM-enabling solutions.
While the end use of an industrial machine may vary, the companies in this market share some common problems. Suppliers of these products are under constant pressure to innovate as well as hold to high quality/performance standards and competitive costs. Machines are often designed and made to order, working from a base design. Industrial machines can be complex products involving many subassemblies; electronic, software, and mechanical components; and close tolerances. The manufacture of these products involves complex bills of materials, and a combination of in-house and contracted manufacturing of parts and assemblies. Machine manufacturers have to share product information with their customers as well as their suppliers, as almost no industrial machinery manufacturer builds every component of every machine. Because of the global nature of the industrial machinery business, this sharing and collaboration needs to flexibly support global collaboration.
These products are major capital investments for industrial customers and have long lifecycles. Manufacturers are required to provide clear documentation of maintenance information and in many cases, actually perform the maintenance for their customers. From time to time, upgrade packages can be made available to customers to improve performance without replacing an entire machine. When these upgrades are released, clear design and installation information is essential.
The research focuses on how existing PLM enabling technologies can be used to address three critical problems facing industrial machinery firms:
• Winning Bids Profitably;
• Enabling Efficient Business Processes across the Extended Enterprise;
• Installation, Commissioning, and Maintenance.
Stan Przybylinski, CIMdata’s Director of Research observes: “Over the past thirty years, CIMdata has worked with many industrial machinery companies on their PLM strategies, helping them identify appropriate PLM-enabling solutions to address the issues presented in the paper and other problems. As shown in our market research, industrial machinery companies have collectively invested in PLM but there is much work still to do. The point of the research presented in this paper is that many firms still need to invest to take advantage of new solutions and technologies that are available to expand their PLM implementations and provide additional benefits in product development, installation, commissioning, and services.” “The Next Industrial Revolution” is all about reaping these benefits. Customer quotes and examples from Autodesk help further illustrate how companies are employing PLM-enabling solutions to effectively address these issues.
“The Next Industrial Revolution” is available to be freely downloaded from CIMdata’s website.
About CIMdata
CIMdata (CIMdata.com), a leading independent worldwide firm, provides strategic management consulting to maximize an enterprise’s ability to design and deliver innovative products and services through the application of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions. Since its founding in 1983, CIMdata has delivered world-class knowledge, expertise, and best-practice methods on PLM solutions. These solutions incorporate both business processes and a wide-ranging set of PLM enabling technologies.
CIMdata works with both industrial organizations and suppliers of technologies and services seeking competitive advantage in the global economy. In addition to consulting, CIMdata conducts research, provides PLM-focused subscription services, and produces several commercial publications. The company also provides industry education through PLM certificate programs, seminars, and conferences worldwide. CIMdata serves clients around the world from offices in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. To learn more about CIMdata’s services, visit our website or contact CIMdata at: 3909 Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. T: +1 (734) 668-9922. F: +1 (734) 668-1957; or at Oogststraat 20, 6004 CV Weert, The Netherlands. T: +31 (0)495 533 666.
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