Siemens PLM
Software
has taken what appear to be its first steps to put PLM in the cloud. The
company announced a joint project with Microsoft to leverage the Microsoft Windows Azure cloud computing platform to run its quality
management solution.
Specifically,
the project will let customers securely run Siemens' Dimensional Planning and
Validation (DPV) application, which is part of the company's Tecnomatix
digital manufacturing solution.
DPV
is a closed-loop system that facilitates the collection, management, analysis
and reporting of quality measurement information tied directly to real-time
production results. Tecnomatix DPV leverages the Teamcenter PLM backbone to
meld as-built production information with real-time production quality data in
the same environment used to manage the product, process and manufacturing
data.
The
project is aimed at exploring how a cloud platform could enable organizations
like remote manufacturing locations or outside suppliers to tap into a
sophisticated quality management application without having to make a full
investment in a PLM infrastructure, according to company officials.
"One area
where the cloud could offer value is in situations where a company or
organization could benefit from an enterprise-level PLM capability, such as our
Tecnomatix DPV quality management solution, but don't have access to the full
PLM IT infrastructure," says Eric Sterling, senior vice president of Global
Marketing, Siemens PLM Software. "Offering this solution in the cloud would
enable the organization to experience the benefits on-demand and without the
overhead associated with implementing a full PLM solution."
In addition to the DPV-Azure project, Siemens PLM Software is working with
Microsoft on several other ways to effectively leverage cloud computing. The
pair recently demonstrated product development collaboration in the cloud
utilizing the Windows Azure platform to securely and automatically share 3-D
product information using the JT data format and PLM XML data format, between
an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and its suppliers.
Tweet This
4 
