The life cycle of an object is one of the essential concepts in modern business management. Although some companies continue to release products without caring about, for example, their future recycling, more organizations are starting to implement product lifecycle management or PLM. The application of this method allows to obtain more efficient products at the output and maximize the use of available resources. Even though this process involves the interaction of many departments simultaneously, such additional costs are often quite quickly recouped. The active diffusion of technologies and innovations makes this process even more profitable and accessible. This essay aims to analyze the impact of innovative technologies at various stages of the PLM process.
While maintaining a product throughout its entire lifespan is challenging, it can be simplified by breaking its lifecycle into several key stages. The average consumer is often confronted with only the last stages of PLM: Production, Operate, and Recycling. However, despite the length and scope of these phases, initial phases such as Product Planning and Development are also important. It is necessary to consider all possible controversial points even at the development stage to ensure an effective product life cycle, such as a disposal. However, for the business management process and the product itself to be as successful as possible, cooperation between all seven elements of PLM is necessary. Innovative technologies are a significant help in improving this cooperation and increasing the efficiency of the process as a whole.
Modern achievements of science and technology find their application in almost all stages of production. At the same time, innovations are also actively built into the development cycle itself, gradually changing it. For example, the introduced innovations allow to include the future customers in the creation process. Consequently, the company faces additional tasks of organizing contacts with the target audience, which can be used both as a resource and co-developer. In addition, with the frequent use of various outsourcing firms, the task of synchronizing development appears. Therefore, innovative technologies simplify the development process and change the challenges it faces, forcing it to take into account technological development and the interaction of the opportunities they create.
Many of these processes are closely related to the computerization and proliferation of various computing devices. During the industrial revolution, the development of steam engines allowed manufacturing to take a giant leap forward, and now the introduction of industrial computers plays the same role. Most notable in this context are various industrial robots. The use of robotics technologies makes it possible to replace a person in hazardous operations, speed up the production process, and reduce downtime. In addition, they can be used for quality control and, finally, to perform various logistics operations. The use of interconnected computer networks, for example, also reduces communication times, which can significantly speed up production, especially in the context of remote offices.
Most of the latest innovations to shorten production times and get goods to market faster can be seen in the context of Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution. Within the framework of this phenomenon, active digitalization of the entire production process is being carried out and integrated into a single information network. Following this, companies gain access to vast amounts of data that can be processed quickly and efficiently using big data technologies. 3D printing made it possible to obtain complex, multi-component objects reasonably quickly. Finally, the Internet of Things allows physical objects to be interconnected and to implement massive autonomous networks. In addition, large-scale integration of objects allows companies to get constant access to information about them, making the quality control process easier and more efficient. Finally, the tasks of optimizing and responding to innovations and trends are also greatly facilitated, allowing Industry 4.0 to grow at an almost exponential pace.
Such systems have several advantages from a wide variety of perspectives. First of all, computerization allows making calculations at speeds that a person is not physically capable of. Accordingly, the efficiency of using the equipment is significantly increased. Eliminating humans from the system and delegating authority to computers enhance safety, reliability, and production quality. Finally, costs are also significantly reduced due to the absence of the need to pay salaries and the use of cheap computer resources. However, as noted above, the use of such systems creates several new tasks that require close attention. One of the most important of these is cybersecurity associated with the increase in the number of computers in use. Although the use of linked systems speeds up access to information, the resulting instability will be much greater if such a system is hacked. If one machine breaks down in a standard plant, production will not be stopped, but if the control system of a high-tech factory is hacked, the consequences can be much more severe. The proliferation of computerization creates the need for appropriately qualified specialists, which gives rise to many problems.
Thus, innovative technologies every year more and more change the production process, making changes to existing systems and in some cases even replacing them with new ones. Such trends can significantly increase the efficiency, safety, and quality of manufactured products at all stages of PLM. Computerization allows both to reduce product development time and bring customers closer to the production process, using them as consultants and resources. However, the widespread introduction of such technologies creates a significant security threat caused by the scale of the possible consequences of a compromised system. This problem is one of the most significant obstacles to the fourth industrial revolution. All its benefits in reduced costs and increased efficiency must be treated with caution.