Product Data Information Access & Retrieval: The Missing Component of Manufacturers' PLM Strategy from Endeca Computing ITHound

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Product Data Information Access & Retrieval: The Missing Component of Manufacturers' PLM Strategy
by Endeca
Published:October 2006
Format: Portable Document Format (.pdf)( 104.9 KB )
Length: 10 pages
Overview

Over the past decade, manufacturers have invested heavily in product data management tools and processes - largely in some combination of PDM, PLM, PIM, ERP, CMS, or other product data-related systems - to take control of their product information and ensure its availability. This is no small task. Manufacturers' product data is extremely complex. Not only is it scattered throughout the enterprise, but it includes both highly structured data with a multitude of attributes and almost completely unstructured data in diverse formats.

However, despite the time, thought, and money spent in managing this data, manufacturers have failed to receive the full ROI they hoped to obtain from these systems. What'S the reason? Current product systems focus on data storage and management.

But the true value of the data is unlocked only by accessing and retrieving it. The missing link is providing users with the right tools to access and retrieve the information they are looking for in these systems. This information is critical to getting timely answers to high-value questions such as:

- Is there an existing part or design I can use in the new product?
- Is there an existing, tested part that fits given functional specs, or meets environmental regulations, or provides a better lifecycle risk? - Is there excess inventory I can use instead of buying more?
- Am I paying the lowest price available? Am I selecting a preferred supplier?
- Which parts can I consolidate to a single vendor to negotiate a better price?

These questions may seem inconsequential. But not answering them - because of search or information retrieval failures - makes a big difference for manufacturers.

Read this white paper to learn more...