Chapter 1: Early Stage Issues

Title: Approach to Collaborative Product Documentation for Auto and Aero Industry

Author(s): Srinivasan Mangalam Subramanian, Sukanta Kumar Acharya, Jitesh Sreedharan Nambiar

Address: Senior Consultant Infosys Technologies Limited No 350, Hebbal Electronics City, Hootagalli Electronics City, Mysore – 570018, India | Principal Consultant Infosys Technologies Ltd. 3000, Town Centre Suite #- 2850 Southfield, MI- 48075, USA | Software Engineer Infosys Technologies Limited No 350, Hebbal Electronics City, Hootagalli Electronics City, Mysore – 570018, India

Reference: International Conference on Product Lifecycle Management 2006 pp. 37 - 52

Abstract/Summary: Mergers and acquisitions have given rise to opportunities around competency and market base. At the same time it has brought in the challenge of managing with diverse operation practices and disparate IT base within the organization. While companies tend to focus on collaboration on Engineering, Development, Manufacturing and Supply chain; diversity in product documentation comes as the single largest obstacle. This led to the thought around "Collaborative Product Documentation" that aims to achieve a harmonized process and a common product schema across the operating units of an organization. Many companies embarked upon PLM initiatives as a step towards Collaborative Product Documentation. However, most of the PLM Implementations could not deliver the intended benefits due to the difficulties experienced in foreseeing following impediments before implementing the initiatives.

• Absence of uniform product documentation requirements across functional areas / operating units.
• Impact of evolving processes over the long gestation period of PLM implementation.
• Lack of integrations across business functions leading to information islands.

This paper attempts to develop a systematic approach for achieving the Collaborative Product Documentation. It is primarily based on authors' own experience in the subject matter. The approach of the paper is analytical in nature concluding with a suggestive rational model that companies may adopt on their journey towards Collaborative Product Documentation.

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