How do we turn what customers expect into innovations that do more than they imagined?
The Siemens answer: PLM software for small businesses to improve customer responsiveness

PLM is no longer the exclusive domain of big business. The SMB is now seeing PLM as a genuine opportunity to gain the competitive advantage.

This webinar will show you how moving to a PLM solution can help you to exceed your customers expectations. We will also introduce you to the Velocity Series of PLM solutions design specifically for the needs of SMBs… and we will discuss how implementing Velocity Series has helped other companies exceed customer expectations.

For more information, visit the MarketKey website or alternatively register here.

MarketKey has announced the launch of the PLM Webinar Series 2009, a 6 part free-to-attend webinar series offering insight into the PLM space from leading analysts, vendors and thought leaders with a view to further understanding the commercial benefits of Product Lifecycle Management.

The first two sessions take place in June with 4 further sessions scheduled for later in the year.

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SESSION 1 – On June 3rd, CIMdata President, Ed Miller, will deliver the opening session titled ‘Using PLM to Succeed in the Downturn‘.

At a time of economic instability, the session will explain how PLM can improve your business processes, eliminate waste and crucially, maintain innovation through this difficult period.  Attendees will learn why PLM is not a luxury that should be cut when a recession strikes, but a necessity to compete and succeed during a recession.  For more information visit the MarketKey Website or alternatively register here.

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SESSION 2 – On June 10, Bruce Boes, VP of Global Velocity Marketing at Siemens PLM, will lead the session ‘Delivering the PLM Benefit to the SMB‘

How do we turn what customers expect into innovations that do more than they imagined?
The Siemens answer: PLM software for small businesses to improve customer responsiveness

PLM is no longer the exclusive domain of big business.  The SMB is now seeing PLM as a genuine opportunity to gain the competitive advantage.

This webinar will show you how moving to a PLM solution can help you to exceed your customers expectations.  We will also introduce you to the Velocity Series of PLM solutions design specifically for the needs of SMBs… and we will discuss how implementing Velocity Series has helped other companies exceed customer expectations.

For more information, visit the MarketKey website or alternatively register here.

If you require any additional information regarding the MarketKey PLM Webinar Series or any other MarketKey webinars, please contact us at info@marketkey.co.uk.

Not for the first time, PTC has now become subject to takeover speculation.  Earlier this year there were rumours that PTC could be an aquisition target, the most likely suitor being touted as SAP – this, and positive sales figures, saw their share price leap from $13.68 in mid-March to more than $21 by mid-August.   This month, the Financial Times announced that PTC has engaged the services of Goldman Sachs to look for potential buyers with a price tag of around $2billion.   PTC are yet to comment on this speculation, and at the Deutsche Bank Securities Technology Conference on September 9th, Kristian Talvitie, PTC’s vice-president of investor relations said “With respect to the article, things get printed on rumors all the time. I can’t comment on that. But as a public company, our shares are always for sale on the Exchange.”

Whether the rumour is true or not, it seems reasonable to assume that a takeover approach might well win board approval in light of the Boston Business Journal reporting a bonus increase for senior management should an acquistion be successful.

Napier Turbochargers began manufacturing turbochargers in 1947. However, the Napier name goes back to the early 1800s and in its history it has been behind such achievements as a series of land, air and water speed world records and the famous Napier Railton racing car of 1933. Today, Napier is one of the largest independent manufacturers in the world of large axial turbochargers for use in the marine, power generation and rail traction industries.

“The PLM solution that Majenta PLM is supplying and is helping us to implement will help to ensure that the right product information is at the right place at the right time”, said Andy Thacker, managing director, Napier Turbochargers Limited. “It is therefore crucial to the continued development of our range of products and to the success of the ambitious growth plans we have in each of our markets, where we are already recognized as a leading supplier.”

“Napier is renowned as an innovative company with an excellent suite of products delivering high technical performance,” he added. “I am pleased that the business has been acquired by a shareholder that is committed to investing further in R&D to maintain its technology and in the expansion of the business to meet customer demand”.

Trevor Stapleton, sales director, Majenta PLM, stated, “The Napier heritage includes such world-famous achievements as a series of land speed, air speed and water speed world records in the late 1920s and early 1930’s that culminated in the land speed record of 394.196 mph set in 1947. We are therefore delighted to be selected by the modern-day descendent, Napier Turbochargers Ltd, to provide and support the technology that will help the company build on its heritage and on its much more recent successes”.

The report reveals that while there is still a relatively modest adoption of PLM by SMEs, there is a clear performance benefit to those that are using it.   Specifically, product profit margins are claimed to be 18.5% higher.  In addition to this, the report claims that misconceptions of PLM are extensive which prevents many smaller companies from recognising the value, or indeed exploring PLM as an opportunity at all.

“Prior to implementing PLM, Best-in-Class SME companies focus on understanding their current product development processes so they can identify where PLM will offer the most benefit. Starting with the problems they need solved clarifies how PLM will help them. They are also sure to have executive level involvement from the very beginning,” observes Michelle Boucher, Research Analyst in Aberdeen’s Product Innovation & Engineering practice. “Their approach pays off as their implementation costs are 74% lower than the Industry Average.”

A complimentary copy of the report has been made available by IBM, Siemens PLM Software and the Aberdeen Group.  This offer remains open until 26 September 2008.