PLM Product lifecycle management becomes a learning system

Related Vendors

Aras Corp

FAULHABER Drive Systems

Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)

Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into product lifecycle management (PLM) marks a turning point: While PLM systems previously primarily served for structured data linkage and management, they are gaining proactive and collaborative capabilities through AI, according to Aras.

"PLM and AI form a symbiotic partnership, where both technologies mutually enhance each other. PLM provides the data and connects them. It is essentially the basis for the use of AI, which is then able to analyze and interpret the data," says Jens Rollenmüller, Regional Vice President at Aras. Only through the networking of diverse areas along the product lifecycle can the potential of AI in the industrial environment be fully realized, according to the digitalization expert.

The 'Digital Thread' as a continuously updated digital representation of the physical product provides the necessary information for analysis and serves as the basis for decision-making. According to Aras, this development impacts the entire production process—from manufacturing and design to recycling. "This leads to a new generation of adaptive, self-learning, and proactive PLM systems using AI technologies, enabling companies to act more flexibly and efficiently," explains Rollenmüller.

The digital twin becomes an active advisor

Continuous input of data is crucial for a learning PLM system. This includes the analysis of production data, checking supplier status, evaluating customer feedback, and even comments on social media platforms can provide valuable information. The results are incorporated into development or manufacturing processes as well as precise sales forecasts. From the total analyzed data, the software makes intelligent optimization suggestions and helps to strategically place new products in the market.

The digital twin accompanies the real product throughout its entire lifecycle. It continuously collects data both from production and from customer use and forwards the information for analysis to the underlying PLM or AI. The insights gained are automatically incorporated into new product generations. The result is faster development, lower costs, higher quality, and better adaptation to customer wishes.

"With the digital thread, AI can track customer needs in real-time and align product development accordingly. This enables hyper-personalization. Products adapt to individual needs almost in real-time," says Rollenmüller. This makes the digital thread the centerpiece of modern product development and manufacturing.

AI knows how the company ticks

An example of the wide range of applications for AI-supported application systems is their use at the marine specialist thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). There, internal processes are analyzed with software support to create a digital representation of the entire company. Dr. Kira Giesecke, Head of Value Chain Strategy at TKMS, states: "Through the capabilities we now have with Aras Innovator, we are networking information. This enables us, among other things, to teach AI how our company operates."