PLMjobs.com Blog

A business information portal dedicated to PLM (product lifecycle management) software for the fashion and textile industry is being launched by just-style in the New Year.

The just-style PLM hub will provide executives and decision makers in the apparel industry with information including an introduction to PLM, news and announcements, vendor white papers and interviews.

The free-to-view service, which will go live during the first week of January, will also post company profiles and a complete vendor directory.

PLM software enables fashion firms to manage rapid response times, constant order changes and short product lifecycles across complex global supply chains.

Leading apparel and footwear companies know that managing their product supply chain with the right PLM solution is particularly crucial given the current global economic slowdown.

Indeed, the flow of new fashions to entice consumers into stores, boosting full price sales, and keeping smaller inventories gives them a competitive edge at a time when they need it most.

Dassault Systèmes is the lead PLM vendor supporting the hub.

John Squire, vice president of marketing for Dassault Systèmes’ Enovia brand said: “just-style’s hub is an ideal platform for Dassault to drive global brand awareness and expand our leadership position in the market for retail, footwear and apparel PLM solutions.”

To register to be notified as soon as the Buyers’ Guide to PLM Software is launched, click here.

Geometric Software, the India based Product Lifecycle Management and engineering solution company, have announced their intention to diversify into a broader cross-section of industries.  Traditionally, Geometric has generated much of its revenue from the automotive and aerospace sectors, working with companies such as Ford and Chrysler.  However, with a downturn in these industries forecast to continue, the company is looking to avoid the risk associated with being too focused on only a few industry segments.  “We are now looking at other industries such as fashion, apparel and luxury goods makers, which are adopting PLM,” said S Ravi Gopinath, MD and CEO of Geometric Software. “The fashion industry is also seasonal and the time to market is critical, so the challenges are similar [to the automotive and aerospace industries].”

Geometric showcased its apparel solution ‘D.R.A.P.E.D.’ at Miami’s Technology Solutions Expo in April and is since rumoured to have secured a large fashion and lifestyle client.

Geometric are not the first PLM vendor to expand their market reach.  Market leader and software partner, Dassault Systemes, have also moved into less traditional PLM industries.

IBM has rapidly increased its PLM capacity in the last few years, now employing more than 3,000 PLM practitioners across the company.   IBM will continue to sell and support Dassault Systemes products with the emphasis on V6, the latest release of Dassault’s core offering.

IBM has grand hopes for PLM, anticipating that lifecycle management solutions will expand beyond the current engineering focus and become an enterprise wide set of applications.   The company now has 10 PLM Centres of Excellence around the World.

Further coverage of IBM’s PLM vision can be found on Desktop Engineering and Manufacturing Computer Solutions.