Industries

Plot a course to a digital future at CIMdata PLM Road Map event

By Robert Lyons

Some of the most dominant forces driving PLM digital transformation will converge at the end of the month for the CIMdata PLM Road Map & PDT North America conference to focus on the disruptive power of digitalization. Leaders from some of the most influential companies will examine the impact that digital transformation has already made and how digitalization will continue to shape the future of planning, building and bringing new products to market.

Hosted by CIMdata, a recognized leader in PLM (product lifecycle management) consulting, the event will feature key figures from organizations driving their industries toward a digital future and providers of the tools and vision needed for the transformation.

“It’s not just bringing technology into your organization; it’s really thinking about it holistically.”

Dale Tutt, Siemens Vice President of Industry Strategy

Siemens Digital Industries Software President and CEO Tony Hemmelgarn will be on the event’s “View From the Top” panel. Vice President of Industry Strategy Dale Tutt will be among the featured presenters.

Hemmelgarn will cap off the conference’s first day during the CEO Spotlight. He will share a stage with the heads of Aras and PTC software companies to discuss PLM’s role in a successful and sustainable future. The CEO Spotlight allows attendees to compare and contrast the approach and vision each of the three PLM providers brings to the table.

Because it is an education-oriented event, the audience will learn in a no-pressure setting how Siemens’ open architecture Xcelerator solutions are fast-tracking the development of complex products, like autonomous vehicles and electric aircraft, while reducing risk and providing traceability.

It’s not just the products becoming more innovative. There must also be innovation in developing and manufacturing those products to support visibility and tighter collaboration among teams around the planet. No matter which vendor a company chooses to partner with, the digital transformation itself is no longer optional.

“You have to transform if you’re going to be relevant,” Tutt said. “You have to have a digital transformation, and that’s why you see so many of the leading companies doing this now. And you can hear about that at a conference like this.”

The providers of PLM solutions are just a small part of the two-day event. Current and former experts from the Department of Defense, BAE Systems, Boeing, NASA, General Motors and Delphi will cover topics ranging from challenges and opportunities of digital transformation to managing OEM-Supplier relationships. The discussions will give those in attendance a chance to learn from each other and consider their own strategies based on what has worked and not worked for organizations that have already pioneered the territory.

Tutt has been on both sides of the fence. Prior to joining Siemens in an engineering design, development, and program leadership role, he served as chief engineer and program director of Textron Aviation’s Scorpion Jet Program. He later moved on to VP of engineering and program management roles at The Spaceship Company, where he led the development of commercial space tourism vehicles. Based on those experiences, Tutt understands the challenges companies face and can identify precisely how digitalization can alleviate the pain points and remove barriers to innovation speed, performance and quality.

He knows a cohesive software ecosystem provides the foundation to incorporate digital threads, which accelerate product development by connecting engineering domains with standardized data sets. The commonality supplied through the digital thread enables the visibility to track and trace requirements as they flow down from the system level to individual components, electronics and integrated circuits.

The digital thread is the focus of Tutt’s presentation at the conference. His past has taught him that managing the millions of data points typical of today’s advanced automotive and aerospace products cannot safely be done manually within spreadsheets while achieving the speed needed to maintain a competitive advantage.

Digital threads should be at the forefront of the decision-making process when adopting advanced solutions. The thread allows companies to move with confidence from one engineering phase to the next, Tutt said.

“It’s the people, the tools and the technology – not just the technology – that really helps companies win,” he said. “You can’t just go buy CAD and transform your business. It’s not just bringing technology into your organization; it’s really thinking about it holistically.”

Siemens will also have a booth at the conference, so participants wanting to engage in a more in-depth exploration of the company’s approach will have that opportunity. The CIMdata PLM Road Map & PDT North America 2022 is scheduled for May 24 and 25 in Tysons, Va., just outside Washington DC. For more information or to register for the event, click here.

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This article first appeared on the Siemens Digital Industries Software blog at https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/aerospace-defense/2022/05/11/plot-a-course-to-a-digital-future-at-cimdata-plm-road-map-event/