Autodesk® PLM ServicesStart your deployment off on the right foot with these best practices.

The Autodesk PLM 360 cloud-based platform is a next generation alternative to traditional product lifecycle management that makes the benefits of PLM accessible anytime, anywhere, to companies of all sizes.

In conjunction, Autodesk PLM Services employs Map It, Build It, Use It, a next-generation implementation methodology designed to get customers up and running with PLM 360 in weeks instead of months or years. The following best practices offer helpful considerations for those just getting started with Autodesk PLM 360.

Getting Started

1. Establish Executive Sponsorship

Solid executive sponsorship is critical to a successful implementation. This leadership will create a climate for success by communicating goals, rallying support, and rewarding success. Having an executive on hand can also allow for faster decision making during system setup.

2. Select Implementation Team Wisely

The Implementation Team, also known as Core Team or Steering Committee, is a cross-functional group of around ten people that meet regularly to make decisions on how to implement changes in the PLM business processes at your organization. Select team members who will promote positive changes within your organization and offer good insight.

3. Evaluate Your Company Needs & Pain Points

Ask stakeholders at all levels “what keeps you up at night?” Often the best place to start when implementing a new solution is gathering feedback from team members on the most problematic areas of your current processes and where the largest and easiest gains can be made first. Early wins on even just a few of these pain points builds momentum and helps drive user adoption.

4. Define a Successful Outcome

Identify measurable goals and objectives so your team knows when they’ve crossed the finish line. Clear, crisp goals with timeframes create focus and energy to allow implementation teams to finish strong.

5. Implement in Phases

Eating one piece of chocolate cake tastes great, but eating an entire cake in one sitting can make anyone sick. The same is true when rolling out new systems and processes. It’s often a good idea to break up your implementation into bite size chunks. Getting one or two processes up and running quickly can create enthusiasm and support for continued expansion.

Set Up

6. Involve all Possible Organizations and Locations

It is common for departments to feel left out if they haven’t been included in the decision making process around how the system will be setup. By including as many groups as possible and addressing their needs, it can spur faster adoption.

7. Start With Good Data

Garbage in, garbage out! Data structure and integrity must be ensured with careful planning and user involvement. Pre-loading your new system with

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For more information about Autodesk PLM 360, visit www.autodeskplm360.com

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Roll Out

9. Initiate a Simple Change Management Program

PLM systems usually engage a broad range of users across an organization. Successful change management can be as simply as sending out a monthly e-mail during the planning process that communicates what is coming, why the changes will be taking place, progress to date, and why users should be excited. Simply strategies like this can go a long way in making all users feel a part of the rollout.

10. Ensure Training and Support for End Users

Ensure the long-term success of your implementation through effective engagement, training, and support of end-users. Find the approach that your users prefer whether that’s in person training, webinar, or video based training.

Optimize:

11. Leverage the Autodesk and PLM 360 Ecosystem

Autodesk has a large and growing community of PLM 360 users. Connecting with this community is an excellent way to leverage lessons-learned, discuss ideas, and connect with peers whether online or in person through events like Autodesk University.

12. Continuously Enhance the User Experience

A major benefit to cloud based systems is that they are continuously improved and enhanced with new capabilities and features. Tapping into these updates can go a long way in making sure end users have the best experience possible.

For more information about Autodesk PLM 360,

visit www.autodeskplm360.com

Autodesk and AutoCAD are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Academy Award is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. © 2012 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

even a small amount of good, useable data can go a long way.

8. Balanced Approach to Documentation

When rolling out systems in the past, it was common to author massive binders full of detailed procedures and processes. Since cloud based systems are upgraded and improved regularly, customers often find it much more useful to document just key workflows and general overviews. This lighter approach to documentation allows companies to be more nimble with system changes and tweaks.

PLM Project Timeline

PLM Automation Monitoring

As-Is Could-Be