Here is a classic scenario associated with developing medium to large complexity products: A team of people (say, 50 to 100) have to be coordinated. Each member has deliverables and deadlines that must be executed in a specific order. You apply well-known project management techniques.

Now the question is – what technology do you use to support your project management? An informal survey shows that most organizations use a standalone project management tool for this purpose. While there is nothing wrong with this approach, it is disconnected from the PLM system supporting the product development.

This leads to the following scenario:

1. X, the project manager, identifies that Y, a CAD designer has to complete a 3D CAD model by the end of the month.
2. This is laid out in the gantt chart as a task with start and finish dates by X and sent to Y.
3. Y starts working on the 3D CAD model but gets distracted by other priorities and starts running late.
4. X, seeing that the task is due, calls Y and asked him if it is finished. Y, being human and under pressure to perform, misleads X and tells him it is complete.
5. X updates his gantt chart to show that the CAD is complete and reports this to his upper management.
6. A week later it emerges that the CAD is not complete, leading to delays, interventions, etc.

So what is the crucial disconnect in this scenario? The PLM system (where the CAD resides) is completely separate from the project management tool (where the gantt chart resides). Imagine the advantages if these two were connected.

Never fear, there is a solution – Teamcenter Program and Project Management tools allow you to do this. A fully integrated PLM solution that is part of the industry-leading Teamcenter platform, it allows complete connection between project management and design deliverables such as 3D CAD. You can manage your projects in one place and with one system, no matter how simple or complex they are.

Here are the features of the solution:

1. Robust project management capabilities fully integrated in PLM.
2. Full program and project management capabilities within the platform.
3. Project tasks and deliverables linked to PLM data.
4. Automatic task, deliverable, and project status updates as users store and release product data.
5. Program and project reporting with standard reports, along with easy to configure dashboards.
6. Tasks can be tied directly to other PLM data such as 3D CAD.
7. A task can point to all the reference information required for that task. This means that a participant always has complete information to complete the task.
8. Tasks can be tied to a workflow for more rigorous management of their execution.
9. Project managers can access and check deliverables directly from the project timeline.
10. Program and project reporting using standard reports or easy to configure dashboards.
11. Project status automatically updates as tasks are completed.

Gantt Chart in Teamcenter                             Workflow in TeamcenterSo let’s replay the previous scenario:

1. X, the project manager, identifies that Y, a CAD designer has to complete a 3D CAD model by the end of the month.
2. This is laid out in the gantt chart within Teamcenter and a task deliverable is assigned to Y, who gets immediate email notification.
3. Y starts working on the 3D CAD model but gets distracted by other priorities and starts running late.
4. X, who has immediate visibility into the deliverable, sees that Y is running late without having to talk with them.
5. X and Y work together to get back on track and the 3D CAD is completed on time.
6. The gantt chart is immediately updated and visible to management.
7. Everybody is happy!

Connecting project management to your product design activities in Teamcenter has huge advantages – what’s holding you back?