Sometimes we are asked the important question of PLM's and ERP's roles in a company's business. Below you can find some of the differences and role of these systems in high level.
ERP system is a business management tool used to fulfill the needs of many facets of a company including; finance and accounting, distribution, human resources, customer service and manufacturing operation.
Which are the main business management decisions to think about?
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PLM manages
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ERP manages
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- Items (mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, software)
- All revisions and revision history
- Drawings
- Specifications
- Requirements
- Software binaries
- Engineering BOM
- Manufacturing BOM (optional)
- Manuals
- Service instructions
- Work instructions
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- Sales and Production orders
- Materials
- Make or Buy
- Price parts
- Suppliers
- Forecasts
- Quantity in stock
- Net Needs
- Purchasing
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Importance during the product lifecycle
Importance of the PLM and ERP business systems will vary during the product lifecycle. Where ERP has a main focus on managing current production phase, PLM will have an important role from product definition, information management to the delivered products and service business development, during the lifecycle.
For a more detailed breakdown of PLM, see our in-depth guide on what is Product Lifecycle Management.
Free eBook: 3 reasons to consider PLM
When you wish to explore more about PLM our free eBook: Three reasons to consider PLM might be of help.
