Volvo IT and IBM partner to offer product lifecycle management

Volvo Information Technology, IBM Global Services and IBM’s product lifecycle management (PLM) business are to partner and pool skills and technologies to offer manufacturers across industry best-practice methodologies and services in PLM. The deal follows a deal signed in June between Volvo IT and IBM partner Dassault Systems to resell and provide services around its Catia CAD/CAM, Enovia and Smarteam product-development and data-management applications. Starting in the Nordic region, Volvo IT and IBM will provide consulting, solution design, systems development, implementation and integration services, project management, training and support, based on the same range, but now with Big Blue backing. Volvo IT primarily serves the Volvo Group and Volvo Car Corporation for its manufacturing and engineering IT, but has been growing its services around the world in SAP R/3 provision, CAD/CAM, PLM, web-based collaborative technologies and the like. PLM applications represent one of the most important ways forward for users with high engineering content and design authority involving more complex products, machines and systems, and their operations and change management over long periods. With ERP systems largely in and maturing for business, supply chain and production management, this is the next great enterprise push. Also, packaged and web-enabled solutions are a far cry from the PDM debacle of a decade ago, and accepted benefits now include: easier innovation, as well as better, more efficient and sustainable product development and collaboration across suppliers – not only in developing, but also operating and maintaining product. The results are reduced costs, higher quality, faster time to market and ramp up to production – and better more efficient and cheaper customer service throughout products’ operational life and maintenance. “Within the next few years, the majority of manufacturing industries will need to invest in PLM system to maintain and strengthen their competitive edge. For many years, Volvo has focused its efforts on this area, and as a result, Volvo IT has acquired a very broad competence within this field. Now, we intend to offer this expertise to companies outside the Volvo Group,” says Anders Ydergård, vice president, product development at Volvo IT. Ulf Nilsson, president and CEO, Volvo IT, adds: “Today, we are announcing a new strong team delivering expanded business value to manufacturing companies. Together IBM and Volvo IT will deliver a value proposition unmatched in the marketplace. We, Volvo IT and IBM, have the resources to help manufacturers comprehend and leverage PLM technology and methodology to further their own competitive advantage.” Thomas Reenberg, manager, IBM Global Services for the Nordic region, says: “Volvo IT is an innovator in the automotive industry, particularly in the PLM area where it has pioneered the development and implementation of leading concepts. Their expertise, combined with IBM Global Services’ consulting and backed by IBM’s IT solution offering, will help our customers implement a total PLM approach.” Ed Petrozelli, general manager of IBM PLM, adds, “Momentum is growing in the PLM space, and manufacturers are looking for best practices. The co-operation with Volvo IT will give our customers better access to competent PLM professionals and IBM technology.”