If you’re in the fashion industry, one of the most challenging tasks is efficiently managing the process of your product development. There is raging competition from every company in the apparel industry, and it can be overwhelming to handle everything effectively, starting from the planning and designing of your products to the sales, suppliers, and disposal or recycling. However, there are many tools available to help smooth the process over while giving you an edge over other companies.
What is PLM Software?
PLM’s full form is Product Lifecycle Management. It first came into being in the 1990s in the automobile and aerospace industries when building a vehicle to keep track of the component’s lifecycles. PLM, a software, can be much more than just that if used correctly. PLM software can be a powerful solution that keeps track of all the data involved in the lifecycle of a product from the beginning to the end.
Why Invest in PLM Software?
PLM Software is an application that provides you with a data warehouse where you can organize and assess all the data needed for every product. The software handles your every need, such as the process of designing in the initial product development stage.
It can also keep track of the data required for your partnership with suppliers and the PIM or Product Information Management and the management of warranty. Apart from handling the initial and middle stage data, the software also stores data related to strategies on disposal of products and discontinuations. You will not need any other app since everything you will ever need is in one place.
Implementing PLM to Bring You Success
The main aim of PLM is to minimize waste during the development process. It can solve many issues that start at the time of designing and during development. Once you decide to opt for PLM, success wouldn’t be very far because you will see an improvement in the quality of the product, increased profit, efficient data management, and a quicker process. Here are three tips to successfully implement PLM:
1. Analyze and Inform
Before implementing PLM, shortlist several issues that you want to change in the development process. After setting a budget, every person involved should be made aware of the PLM software and included in the decisions to keep the progress flowing.
2. Prepare and Create
After shortlisting the changes needed, set realistic goals or expectations on what you aim to achieve after the solution. It is important to know what you would want the results to look like. For example: In the designing stage, you might want to share certain concepts with your designers to meet the needs of the customers. PLM software can share all the details of the plan, such as the color and measurements with your entire team or organization. In the case of product development, aspects of construction and grading can be tracked continually.
3. Be Patient with the ROI
It can take some time to receive an ROI when it comes to a PLM software, but to speed up this process, you can conduct workshops to prioritize certain issues and goals that failed.
The Right Solution like PLM is a Game-Changer in the Apparel Industry
With ever-changing technology, a good tool allows you to have a transparent organization where information is constantly updated to the software. Some of the perks include a reduced cost for prototypes and reduced waste. Suppliers also have access to all product information, which leads to stronger partnerships and results in an efficient, waste-free manufacturing process for you.
