A Methodology for evaluating the efficiency of PLM tools in product development processes

In order to be competitive in modern and growing markets, companies have to improve their production processes (shorter time to market and minor product costs) and reach increasingly higher quality standards. Within Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Knowledge Management (KM) has proved to be key vector for business and product quality improvement, reducing lifecycle costs and time. Knowledge is often not explicitly expressed and often exists as personal and tacit know-how of people, that's why KM is considered a critical aspect for companies and it is strategic adopting KM methods and tools. Two issues have to be considered for the adoption of new KM methods and tools within the product lifecycle: 1) how to select appropriate and effective methods and tools; and 2) how to estimate benefits and impacts before adopting and/or integrating those methods and tools. The paper describes a methodology we have developed for defining and validating an integrated environment for studying and evaluating the adoption of knowledge and innovation management tools within product design process.