PLM Interest Group Challenges Designers to Go Beyond English
July 11, 2012
Much like the writers of Star Trek PLM developers work off the assumption that the entire universe knows English. The fact that all PLM solutions are based in the English language drove the PLM Interest Group (PLMIG) to begin the search for a PLM solution that does more than just translate according to the MCAD Café article, “PLMIG calls for Research into ‘Own-Language’ PLM”.
As the article explains of the problem facing PLM solutions around the world:
“The generally-accepted working language for PLM is English, and it has become accepted practice for all non-native English speakers to standardise on English for PLM so that everyone can understand each other. This is a workable solution, but it still represents a tremendous barrier to PLM understanding and adoption in the majority of countries in the world, as well as in large multi-national corporations.”
PLM in general is a complex set of data management techniques and systems that go far deeper than just putting business processes in order. Providers must remain cognizant of cultural difference within industries as well as remain flexible enough to be relevant in countries around the globe. Inforbix, a leader in the industry, works hard to help all their clients, regardless of nationality, make the most of their PLM solutions and find new data management solutions that meet their unique needs.
Catherine Lamsfuss, July 11, 2012
Good Help is Hard to Find
July 10, 2012
SharePoint consultants – every organization implementing SharePoint thinks that they need one, yet complaints abound regarding their effectiveness. The Meetdux.com blog addresses the topic in the post, “Will the Real SharePoint Consultant Please Stand Up?”
The author shares his personal perspective, as someone who also practices as a SharePoint consultant:
My clients have a common complaint when I come in and help them with their existing SharePoint implementation, ‘The so called SharePoint consultant who helped us roll out SharePoint was no help at all!’ You may ask what seems to be the problem, well, some people who call themselves SharePoint consultants are nothing more than a technical person having some Windows administration background who can easily install, configure and deploy SharePoint in a technical environment.
So what are organizations to do? You need the expertise without the hassle, or the large bill. We would suggest looking into a smart third-party enterprise search vendor like Fabasoft Mindbreeze. Fabasoft Mindbreeze Enterprise can work alongside your existing SharePoint installation, or serve as a standalone enterprise infrastructure. Either way, your organization gets the expertise and support of the Mindbreeze team, which cuts out the private consulting fee, and results in an infinitely better user experience.
Emily Rae Aldridge, July 10, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
aPriori Sees Record Year as Part of PLM Solution
July 10, 2012
Companies across industries are quickly realizing the benefits of product lifecycle management (PLM) not only in saving money but streamlining processes and eliminating waste. An important component to PLM is product cost management. This particular software niche of PLM has been growing and profiting like never before according to the Market Watch article, “aPriori Completes Record Fiscal Year”.
A leader in product cost management, aPriori, landed some impressive clients in the last year like Ford and Diebold, as well as doubled their workforce and saw a 52% in revenues.
As far as their role in the PLM process President and CEO of aPriori, Stephanie Feraday, was quoted in the article as saying,
“Effective product cost management has become a core foundation of many manufacturers’ approach to product lifecycle management. The ROI is difficult to ignore. Our team has capitalized on that trend. We’ve established a very solid foundation in Europe, expanded our base in automotive and are able to do more than ever to ensure our customers get maximum value from their aPriori implementation.”
PLM is a complex system designed to work with each industry and each company individually to maximize ROI and production. Thanks to innovations in technology PLM is now available to small and midsized companies as well as the Fords and Diebolds. For those companies just beginning their journey with PLM we recommend contacting Inforbix, a true leader in the field, dedicated to offering new data management solutions to companies of all sizes.
Catherine Lamsfuss, July 10, 2012
Considering Mobile Access Options for SharePoint
July 9, 2012
At the MSDN.com Blog, Kiril Matev looks at mobile SharePoint in his article, “Extending SharePoint to the Mobile Arena.” Matev has this to say on mobile usage,
Many companies already rely on SharePoint to encourage users to share information and enhance collaboration. It also helps to integrate structured and unstructured data stores that often build up across an organisation. Due to the central role that SharePoint plays in enterprise IT infrastructure, mobile productivity can only be enhanced in companies that use SharePoint if users are able to access SharePoint resources reliably and intuitively on their mobile devices.
He goes on to discuss:
. . . company data available on all mobile devices. Regardless of whether you have a BlackBerry®, iPhone®, Windows Phone or Android™ Smartphone or a tablet such as the Apple iPad, Samsung Chromebook/GalaxyTab or Blackberry Playbook. You can act independently SharePlus as one option, but points out that not all companies may find it as the best way to extend SharePoint to mobile. Mobile usage continues to grow.
It seems that the experts at Fabasoft Mindbreeze understand the importance of mobile access:
Smartphones and tablets are constant companions, indispensable in the business world. Information needs to be able to be exchanged at all times and wherever you are. Easily. Quickly. Securely.
Fabasoft Mindbreeze Mobile makes and freely – yet always securely. Irrespective of what format the data is in.
Read more about the full suite of solutions at http://www.mindbreeze.com/.
Phillip West, July 9, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
The Ups and Downs of Cloud Technology
July 9, 2012
One of the greatest inventions of the last decade was the cloud. It has enabled countless numbers of companies access to software and services that traditionally have been unattainable due to cost. But even the cloud has a downside as the article, “Cloud Computing: Companies Worry about Unexpected Costs and Fees”, on the Formtek Blog examines. According to the article unexpected fees due to misuse and misunderstanding of cloud based software can be a real detriment to companies.
The article goes on to mention another possible problem facing companies adopting cloud software:
“The ease of getting started with cloud computing is also prompting many departments and groups to by-pass IT. But one problem with departments making an endrun is that, without central coordination of all computing activities, these organizations often will face higher overall costs because of duplication of services across different departments and the loss of volume discounting that may have been negotiated if all activities had been centrally coordinated.”
When it comes to product lifecycle management (PLM) software the cloud has been a true blessing. Suddenly small and midsized businesses are able to utilize time and money saving solutions that were reserved for only the most lucrative of businesses. We couldn’t agree more with the article’s assessment of the disconnect between departments when cloud software is mismanaged. For that reason we recommend Inforbix to companies seeking a cloud based PLM solution. As their Website explains,
“Inforbix helps you find, reuse, and share CAD files in your company no matter where they are located. Because Inforbix uses cloud technology, it takes no special skills or training to deploy and use.”
With their dedication to customer training and ongoing support Inforbix can help companies maximize the cloud without costly complications like the ones discussed in the article.
Catherine Lamsfuss, July 9, 2012
Considerations for an Existing Farm with SharePoint 2013 on the Horizon
July 6, 2012
In “SharePoint 2013 Upgrade or Not: 5 Strategies to Help You Decide,” Bjorn Furuknap gives some tips on preparing for the next version of SharePoint. The author first suggests fixing any of your existing problems now because they will remain largely the same from version to version.
But if you don’t have any major problems, Furuknap offers this:
SharePoint will be here next year, and the year after. And yes, there will be a SharePoint 2016, which will be so much better, and you should probably wait for that to arrive because it’s going to truly outshine SharePoint 2013. If, right now, you don’t have a problem that SharePoint can help you solve, then most likely, you won’t get those problems in November either. In other words, Microsoft releasing a new version will not give you new problems.
The author also suggests that if you have the extra money, consider upgrading now, but if you have many custom apps, consider waiting as they may not jive with SharePoint 2013. Furuknap brings some good points to the discussion by pointing out the decision should be unique to your situation. Asking the right questions will help ensure that your project resources are spent on the key aspects rather than unnecessary functionalities that will only complicate the system.
A third party solution, like Fabasoft Mindbreeze, can also help you connect the dots in your SharePoint system. The Fabasoft Folio Connector integrates all your business information from the intranet, Cloud, internet, and knowledge portals in the corporate-wide search, while maintaining your strict access rights. With Mindbreeze, users can easily search and reuse information from documents, contacts, projects, Wiki articles, conference agendas, and more.
Phillip West, July 6, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
CIMdata Releases White Paper Identifying Industry Weakness
July 6, 2012
Within the manufacturing industry one constant need is a company’s ability to adapt and allow model changes. A recent article titled, “CIMdata Publishes New White Paper ‘CAD Selection Considerations: Design Changes’”, on Melodika.net, explains the premise for one of the world’s leading PLM providers’, CIMdata, latest white paper.
The article explains the fundamental problem facing many enterprises:
“Innovation in product development relies heavily on the fundamental engineering cycle of modify and improve, so most new products are built from changes made to existing products. The modeling tools most beneficial to product designers must align to that cycle and should contain a wealth of rapid and flexible editing methods. When selecting a modeling suite, prospective users must assess their past New Product Introduction experiences and compile a list of their most important and impactful needs.”
At the core of their argument is a desperate need for new data management solutions tying together the various departments, often spread out around the globe, enabling such changes as mentioned to be made smoothly and quickly. For that reason we recommend that those companies finding themselves shopping for new PLM solutions contact Inforbix, a company dedicated to enabling their clients to ‘find, reuse and share product data’. CIMdata’s white paper is probably right on the money as far as highlighting this deficit in many PLM solutions which is why we recommend those struggling with data management go straight to the best for new solutions.
Catherine Lamsfuss, July 6, 2012
Guide to Conditional Content on Mobile Devices in SharePoint
July 5, 2012
Waldek Mastykarz is a software developer and SharePoint Server MVP. In his post, “Conditional Content on Mobile Devices the Easy Way in SharePoint 2010,” Mastykarz looks at some issues with displaying content in SharePoint on mobile devices. The author explains the issue,
Although mobile devices lower the bar for accessing information on the Internet they have their restrictions, such as screen size or bandwidth. In order to deliver optimal experience to your visitors you not only have to consider laying out all the different elements on the page, given the limited screen size, but also have to think about the amount of information you want to serve to your users to ensure that your website will load fast.
Mastykarz adds that responsive Web design allows you to ensure that your Web site is easy to use and content displays well in the limited screen space. He also provides guides and code snippets for enacting conditional content on mobile.
It seems that the experts at Fabasoft Mindbreeze understand the value of powerful search and mobile access to add more efficiency for SharePoint.
. . . makes company knowledge available on all mobile devices. You can act freely, independently and yet always securely. Irrespective of what format the data is in. Full functionality: Search results are displayed homogenously to the web client with regards to clear design and intuitive navigation.
With the full functionality of Fabasoft Mindbreeze for Enterprise and united on-premise and Cloud data, users will be able to act quickly in business matters with smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. Read more about the full suite of solutions at http://www.mindbreeze.com/.
Phillip West, July 5, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
How to Know If Customized PLM Solutions Are the Best Fit
July 5, 2012
When companies make the decision to implement product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions they are faced with an overwhelming number of vendors vying for their business. While some vendors claim out-of-the-box solutions are the best, others claim customization is the way to go. The MCAD Café article, “Understanding PLM System Customization”, tackles this issue. The article gives examples of when out-of-the-box would work as well as customized solutions. The recommendation, though, is a blend – configuration.
As the article wraps up,
“…organizations should steer clear of a dash to customize. It is to be expected that any new PLM system will have inadequacies, both factual and alleged. All workarounds and alternatives should be investigated first before making a commitment to changing the system. It is important to take into consideration that though customization might bring in a competitive gain, there are risks and costs associated with different types of customization. The heavier the customization is the riskier and costlier it becomes.”
We agree with the author in his analysis of companies who often go with a customized PLM solution:
“Over-reliance on heavy customization suggests a deeper problem – It can mean that due to poor PLM selection and evaluation process, the software is ill-fitting with the business requirements.”
To avoid this situation we recommend companies leaning toward customized PLM solutions contact the professionals at Inforbix, a PLM solutions provider who strives to help each customer meet their PLM needs. In most situations companies will realize a well-chosen PLM solution will do the job as well as a customized one.
Catherine Lamsfuss, July 5, 2012
Engaging SharePoint Administrators with Business Knowledge and Experience
July 4, 2012
At the SharePoint Solutions Team Blog, Ricky Spears suggests some skills that server administrators can benefit from in his post, “The Missing Pieces in Most SharePoint Server Administrators’ Skill Sets.” Spears says that in his experience, Server Administrators should have a combination of three skill sets: business knowledge and experience, SharePoint knowledge and experience from a business perspective, and how to configure and administer SharePoint. The author expands on the first skill:
SharePoint integrates with every area of a business: sharing information, creating information, collaboration, information discovery, business intelligence, business process automation, and social interaction. The more a SharePoint Admin knows about your business (both generally, the specific day-to-day operations, and short-term and long-term goals) the better prepared she will be to configure SharePoint to support the needs of your business.
Spears’s emphasis on business knowledge may be because many organizations overlook these important skills. Spears suggests that Server Administrators should shadow employees and spend more time with managers to get a complete picture of the company goals.
The light read provides some basic ways to beef up your existing structure. To also strengthen your SharePoint system, consider Fabasoft Mindbreeze. Part of the full suite of solutions is the information pairing feature. Here is a highlight:
Our information pairing technology makes you unbeatable. Information pairing unites enterprise information and Cloud information. This results in a complete overview of a company’s knowledge – the basis for your competitive advantage – allowing you to act quickly, reliably, dynamically and profitably in all business matters.
Give your employees and Server Administrators quick and efficient access to business information so users can find, share, and reuse valuable knowledge. Read more at Mindbreeze, where they seem to have the benefits of a proper installation down pat.
Philip West, July 4, 2012
Sponsored by Pandia.com
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