Barriers to the implementation of PDM

We know that PLM is in its infancy stage of development and just started about a
decade ago. The pioneers have already seen much opposition to the concept and su
acts will be potential barriers. As PDM is the main foundation of PLM, we need to be
aware of the potential barriers to its implementation.
The potential barriers can be mainly classified as:
1. System
2. People
3. Project Team
4. Process
5. Organizational structure
6. Funding
7. Information
8. Installation
9. Everyday use.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these barriers one by one.

1. System

This is related to the PDM system and PDM vendor. It typically includes:
a) Incomplete System Functionality
b) System malfunction
c) Poor Response time
d) Unavailability of system on wide range of platforms
e) Limited customizability
f) Lack of up-grading
g) Limited interfacability
h) Problems from over sold functionality
i) Vendor going out of business

2. People
All organizations are made of people and since PDM calls for a new work culture,
people will naturally oppose the change. This group may include top management,
middle management, PDM implementation team, PDM consultants and PDM users.
Top management may be source of problems for reasons such as:
• Lack of commitment
• Lack of Leadership
• Lack of support
• And Lack of patience.
Middle management may be source of problems for reasons such as:
• Conflicts with personal goals
• Empire building
• Fear of loss of power
• General lethargy to learn a new concept
PDM implementation team may be source of problems for reasons such as:

• Wants to teach few concepts to remain Important

• Ego clashes with users
• Lack of motivation
• Lack of team work
• Poor project management skills
PDM consultants may be source of problems for reasons such as:
• Want to keep some areas ambiguous to remain in business
• Lack of competency
• Lack of time management
• Lack of commitment
PDM users may be source of problems for reasons such as:
• Think PDM system may play the role of a Big brother watching over their
shoulders
• Thinks PDM system may eventually lead to their job loss.

3. Project Team
The team greatly contributes in making or breaking of the PDM system from how they
work together and produce a robust system. Some of the problems in team which may
result into a potential barrier are:
• Lack of team work – each individual have their own personal agenda
• Project leader is not a good leader
• Lack of clear objectives
• Lack of willingness to learn
• A fixed team till implementation is necessary – team disintegration will lead to
poor quality or project failure.
• If project team comprises of a consultant, he should bring with him working
knowledge or rich experience from Industry

4. Process
Process in PDM means the steps in workflow and making sure people have right
information as and when they need it. Some of the limitations in process information can
become a potential barrier to PDM such as:
• Processes are not fully understood and clearly defined
• Lack Clear idea about information flow
• Team members have differences in opinion on process
• Starting on PDM without improving on Process
• Lack of consensus on one process.
5. Organizational structure
We mentioned earlier that organizations are made of departments and departments are
made of people. The structure of organization either tends be pyramidal creating islands
or lean resulting in a homogenous unified force. Some of the limitations in structure will
development to potential barriers for PDM as listed below:
• Lack of agreement and cooperation between departments
• Problems with cross functional team working
• Departmental barriers preventing information flow
• Departments using different definitions and standards.

6. Funding
Funding is fundamental to any new system introduction and is planned and provided by
the top management. Costs of PDM are very clear for all to see but the benefits are not.
Potential benefits can only be estimated. Some time the team implementing may inflate
their estimates of the benefits and it is dangerous as it may finally not achievable.
Implementation will take a lot of money but it is necessary. Thus the following listed
factors may develop into potential barriers for PDM:
• Insufficient Funding
• Inappropriate project cost justification costs leading to re examination
• Wrong timing of funds
• Benefits not fully explored leading to Budget beings withdrawn or cut
• Lack of ownership from user departments

7. Information
As we all know at the core of PLM or PDM is the information. This information is all
about the product and its related threads such as material, processes, vendors, testing
and validation, distribution, markets etc. The problems related to information flow , use
and quality of product information are an important potential barrier to PDM and reasons
may be listed as below:
• Cost of entering data
• System not able to handle all data types
• Storage limitations
• Incompatibility in data structures
• Lost information
• Knowledge is power – people who draw their power from information unwilling to
part with information
• Unorganized state of information
8. Installation
PDM installation means not just the software installation but as a process installed in an
organization with proper training imparted to the users. The so called system is likely to
have a lot of initial teething problems. The following listed factors may develop into
potential problems:
• The implementing team disintegration
• New team lacking knowledge and motivation
• System Bugs
• Lack of service support from vendor
• Consultant not supporting post implementation hand holding
• Undocumented PDM procedures leading to confusions

9. Everyday use.
PDM team should plan for everyday use of the tool at the beginning of the project. It
should make sure all the resources are made available to support the system in an
everyday use.
PDM team should not bring the system into everyday use until it has been thoroughly
tested and found to be capable of doing what has been promised. If not people will
revert back to their earlier inefficient manual methods.
PDM team should ensure proper training of the personnel with clearly drawn procedures
to use the system. For this a Training budget should be planned beforehand.
Some departments which may feel they are losing control or power due to PDM may
block its everyday use. This needs some appropriate organizational changes & top
management support.
PDM system selection may be easy – challenge is to make it work effectively.