This month, the North American International Auto Show in
Quite an evolution for an event first conceived and launched in 1907 as the Detroit Auto Show by
Some, including much of the media, see these projections as failure and/or bad news for the domestic carmakers. I disagree. Having a smaller market share and building fewer units can be a sign of success and, in fact, good news – if the products introduced are right for the market and profitable for the automaker.
The right product at the right time doesn't happen by accident, nor is it simply a result of visionary design, mixed with just the right amount of "car guy" intuition. The right product – or products – results from successful application of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM).
Product Lifecycle Management is a business approach which deploys different technologies to the creation, and to the entire life cycle, of a company's products. Companies that understand and deploy this approach correctly are able to repurpose existing designs better, recognize problems with components and assemblies faster and integrate focus groups and suppliers much tighter in the development process. As a result, they lower their development costs and are able to get new products to market much faster. And getting more "hits" from the development budget is the key to any automakers' success in a crowded and cutthroat market.
PLM is an approach utilized by all leading product-centric companies. It is, to some extent, used everywhere in the auto industry – by the global OEMs and throughout the supply chain – but it is seldom acknowledged and certainly never celebrated as the key to lasting market success.
For every automaker, everywhere in the world, product is king. It is the goal of every automaker to have the next aspiration "hit" model for which consumers clamor. Achieving this goal once makes an impact. Achieving this goal several times makes an impact and makes news. Achieving this goal consistently does all that and secures market share as well as ensures the sustained viability and profitability of the organization.
Even if
About the author
Ulrich Herter earned a B.A. in Economics at the
About INCAT
INCAT is a Tata Technologies company. Founded in 1989, the company is a leading independent international provider of engineering and design (E&D) services to the world's largest automotive, aerospace and durable goods manufacturers. INCAT is focused on services and solutions for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Information Lifecycle Management (ILM), creating value for its clients through its unique-in-the-industry Global Delivery Model, its state-of-the-art technology and a pragmatic approach to engineering and manufacturing processes that reduces costs and time to market; and helps clients realize superior products. INCAT is headquartered in the
The INCAT "Essential Guide to PLM"
To learn more about the history of PLM, its ongoing evolution and its application across industries, request a copy of the INCAT "Essential Guide to PLM," either in booklet form or as a PDF by visiting www.incat.com/plmguide.