We use it for our purchased products and we had major problems with storing product specifications from suppliers. We use collaboration room for interacting with suppliers.
Pros
Collaboration with suppliers
Workflows management
Easy to set up new specifications
Cons
Better user interface for externals
More reporting on workflow steps
Likelihood to Recommend
Our supplier collaboration works very fine and we have easy access for our specifications
Verified User
Consultant in Information Technology (10,001+ employees)
SAP PLM is used by our team to develop an deliver products into business. We use it to develop products and also production support. We monitor production changes through it. It is used for smooth running of business. We used other products previously but integration with SAP systems was difficult so we adopted SAP PLM to make it easy.
Pros
It is used for change management, production management, checking working status of production
All the resources required by our product can be viewed on a single screen
The cost of maintaining application reduces significantly
Cons
The SAP UI is little complex to understand and requires SAP experts
There are complex processes while delivering products into business
The default windows functions are not available in it
Likelihood to Recommend
SAP PLM is suited for big organizations with no economic constraint since the price of SAP PLM is high. But it makes developing and maintaining applications easier through it change management and status management process. SAP PLM is suited in organizations with high skilled workers because it is complex to handle.
SAP PLM is used for tracking the product life cycle in our organization. SAP PLM ensures that all information is followed, controlled, and managed efficiently. It ensures that product development processes are faster and provides lower cost calculation. It manages product development, support, and recycling projects effectively. It also manages feedback from customers, field engineers, and the market. It allows us to track a product throughout its entire life cycle. It calculates the cost at all stages of the product and allows us to get rid of unnecessary costs.
Pros
Provides lower-cost calculation
This makes processes related to the product consistent, efficient, and simpler.
It manages product development, support, and recycling projects effectively.
It allows us to control the whole process.
It allows us to see the future status of the products.
Cons
Difficulty of use
High cost
Training requirement
No copy-paste feature
It differs from standard windows features.
Likelihood to Recommend
Finding personnel who know SAP PLM is hard in the current market. There is a serious learning difficulty when unfamiliar personnel are recruited. The need for education arises. It is not very suitable for very small companies that do not have materials, products, and inventory to track.
Verified User
Engineer in Information Technology (5001-10,000 employees)
SAP PLM is being used to make Recipes and Specifications of Products - Toothpaste/Toothbrush/Hills Pet Food and corresponding reports and processes. Scientists mainly use it.
Pros
Easy integration between SAP PLM and ERP System.
Handles Change Management.
Cons
Implementation Challenges.
Not a one product fits all — each organization to customize a lot to accommodate their own processes.
Likelihood to Recommend
Recipe/Specification and Change Managements is done well. When paired with HANA, increases overall productivity and user experience. It would be too expensive for an organization with less product and simple processes and will be complicated for implementation for an organization with complex processes.
Verified User
Employee in Information Technology (501-1000 employees)
SAP PLM is being used by the whole manufacturing facility. It allows us to fully track a product from creation to delivery. We are able to track a product even before it is manufactured. We are able to track the raw materials, as well as the packaging materials. This gives us a complete and total view of what it takes/costs to produce any given product at any single time.
Pros
It allows us to strategically control operations by product monitoring and production changes.
Gives you the ability to source upcoming products because you have a complete and total view of all resources at all times.
It allows us to control batch management in the production process, this is a key element in our industry.
Cons
The interface is that of your typical SAP program, it's not very user friendly to a person who doesn't use it every single day.
Some simple Windows commands do not work in SAP PLM, such as a copy and paste.
Right click menus generally produce unconventional results if the user is more familiar with Windows right click menus.
Likelihood to Recommend
SAP PLM is well suited for any industry that needs to track the creation of a product from the raw material stage all the way to the shipped product. I do not think it would be well suited for very small companies which do not have any materials, products, and inventory to track.
