Raising the info beam at Kalthoff
How do you spell relief? PDM, EDM, EDMS, ERP! Trying to keep all those systems and associated subsystems straight is tough enough, but designing, selecting, planning and applying them in a real world--your real world--is a challenge that can be daunting to even the most knowledgeable business professional.
That was the focus of Kalthoff International's Fall 98 Conference in Orlando, FL, Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. Consistent with the Kalthoff interactive forum, the conference provided a source for novices and more experienced professionals to come up to speed on the latest advances in EDMS, EDM, PDM and ERP for manufacturing.
We had observed a change emerging at previous conferences--the trend that more knowledgeable attendees are challenging conference coordinators to raise the beam for both novice and expert level information from speakers and solution providers alike. Continuing that trend at this conference was the presence of representatives from several smaller manufacturing companies (e.g. less than $20 million in sales), who challenged speakers and vendors to provide detailed answers to complex issues.
In addition to the more savvy new consumers was another more experienced group of attendees who have already been down the path of corporate systems implementation. Before starting their next-generation installation, they're seeking expertise to eliminate the pitfalls they endured before. We spoke with several individuals who had been burned during the period of enterprisewide implementations of the 1980s. They told tales of huge projects that collapsed under their own weight, lost momentum or required subsequent funding to complete. Others told of projects falling victim to the focused approach of the 1990s. That approach encouraged each division or sometimes each department to implement point solutions that ultimately created more islands of information than the paper systems had. It was clear those people wanted and needed KM solutions that work.
To those of us who've planned, implemented and learned from hundreds of system installs over the years, those results are not surprising. However, we now see the trend by solution providers and integrators to apply proven methodologies. Some of those companies' methods are proven, but many others have not yet been through a true trial by fire. If you can't drive it, at least look at it before you buy it.
One trend we see with large, successful implementations is that as those methodologies grow robust enough to support complex installs, there will be increased use of integrated methodologies among consultants, integrators and solution providers to accomplish enterprisewide planning with focused implementations.
Vendor update
- Agile--The expanded Version 5.0 of the Agile Workplace was announced with the added Agile Parts Module. The new release is consistent with the company's philosophy of focusing its products and implementation methodology on the industries it knows, predominately supply chain management for electronics and medical devices.
Agile continues to be one to watch. With its installed user list approaching 200 companies, it has set its sights on the European market, and can exhibit more and more success stories outside of its niche market.
Added functionality in Release 5.0 includes enhanced indexing, search and retrieval using part attribute data reminiscent of Group Technology (GT) functionality from the 1970s and 80s, only without the cumbersome coding process. Who knows, maybe we can replace some of those legacy classifications systems in use today.
- CoCreate --A subsidiary of the Hewlett-Packard Company, CoCreate announced the availability of WorkManager 5.0, a major new release of its product data management and workflow solution. Continuing the industrywide trend of Internet functionality, WorkManager 5.0 includes a full read/write browser that is Web-enabled and provides fully distributed and global capabilities over the Web.
WorkManager is solidly positioned as a full-function product data, workflow and collaboration management solution. It is one of the few solutions designed to enable multiple users in geographically dispersed locations to truly work simultaneously on the same design.
- Parametric Technology Corp. --Windchill Technology, a new division of Parametric Technology Corporation, preannounced the release of its new Windchill product at the spring Kalthoff show.
First release of the product was June '98 with first month sales of $14 million. Not bad for an estimated $1 billion annual industry. The revolutionary product offers a visionary Java-based, Web-centric information technology platform that allows seamless use in a Web or non-Web environment, and provides the tools for solution developers to quickly develop enhanced functionality to respond to business needs. Windchill claims that application development times are reduced by more than 75%, with customer developed applications being accomplished in weeks.
The next-generation flagship product only requires the use of a search engine to fully deploy its features across the enterprise whether it is in one location or 100. And with a one-to-one development-to-install rate, the unique approach will put product to market in record time. That is definitely one product and technology to watch.
The Spring Kalthoff conference will be held May 24 to 27 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Philadelphia. Check it out at www.kalthoff.com or call 513-794-3367. ( Editor's note: the Web site for Kalthoff Spring '99 is currently under construction.