CIMdata Blog

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, USA 2 June 2026—CIMdata, Inc., the leading global research, consulting, and education firm specializing in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and the Digital Transformation it enables, announces the publication of a new eBook, sponsored by aPriori Technologies, Automating Engineering Intelligence: Accelerating Profitable Product Development. The eBook details how manufacturers must transform PLM from a “system of record” to a “system of action” to overcome global market volatility.

As competitive intensity rises and supply chain volatility creates sustained margin compression, manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to deliver complex products on time and within budget. While modern PLM systems provide...

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Takeaways

• Aras is driving a transition toward “Adaptive PLM” and the “Agentification” of the user experience. By utilizing AI and dependency graphs rather than static connections, the platform is being designed to predict the impacts of design changes across the enterprise and automate complex product lifecycle processes.
• Cloud-based SaaS adoption within the Aras customer base is accelerating rapidly, with 80 percent of new customers choosing cloud-based SaaS deployments. Massive enterprise migrations are currently underway, most notably automotive supplier Denso, which is transitioning tens of thousands of users to the cloud by September 2026.
• Customer...

Industry Veteran, Janie Gurley, to Lead Reimagined Data & AI Governance Practice

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, USA–May 26, 2026—CIMdata, Inc., the leading global strategic consulting and research firm focused on PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) and the digital transformation it enables, today announced the strategic expansion and renaming of its Data Governance Practice to the Data & AI Governance Practice. The expanded practice will address the growing demand for robust, ethical, and structured oversight of artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystems alongside traditional enterprise data assets.

The practice will continue to be led by Janie Gurley, whose extensive expertise in enterprise information frameworks and data lifecycle...

This PLM-focused event will take place in November in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Ann Arbor, MI, USA 21 May 2026—CIMdata, Inc., the leading global PLM strategic management consulting and research firm, announces the theme and dates for the highly anticipated PLM Road Map & PDT 2026 EMEA conference. The event will take place at the Lindholmen Conference Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 4th and 5th November. The theme for the conference is “AI in PLM: A Disruptive Opportunity and Challenge Turning AI disruption into enterprise value: Strategic insights for the PLM professional.”

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) moves from an experimental technology to a core...

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA 19 May 2026—The Aerospace & Defense PLM Action Group (AD PAG) has announced it will host a live webinar on Tuesday, 23 June at 11:00 am EDT to present the findings of its landmark industry research. Titled "The Value Potential of Digital Twins and Digital Threads - Results from Industry Research", the webinar will offer critical insights into the actual maturity, capabilities, and cross-industry applications of current commercial digital twin and digital thread (DTW-DTH) solutions.

While technology providers frequently promise a seamless DTW-DTH ecosystem, organizations building digital strategies for complex engineering environments cannot afford to bet on...

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PLM is Foundational to ERP and Manufacturing Performance and Business Execution

Takeaways

• Relying on Enterprise Resource Planning and Manufacturing Execution Systems without a foundational Product Lifecycle Management environment creates a structural gap between design and manufacturing. This gap appears in the digital thread, resulting in data inconsistencies, increased rework and late-stage changes, longer time-to-market, and reduced product quality.
• Managing the manufacturing bill of materials within a closed-loop PLM—ERP—MES environment alongside the engineering bill of materials enables concurrent product development, improves efficiency, reduces downstream disruption, and streamlines manufacturing planning and execution.
• To address modern manufacturing challenges,...

This annual educational webinar will focus on the PLM market results for 2025.

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, USA, 12 May 2026—CIMdata, Inc., the leading global PLM strategic management consulting and research firm, is excited to announce an upcoming free educational webinar, “2026 PLM Market Update.” The webinar will take place on Thursday, 11 June 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT). This hour-long session will provide an early look at 2025 PLM market performance and deliver CIMdata’s highly anticipated five-year forecast through 2030.

The PLM Economy, CIMdata’s term for the global ecosystem of software...

The event known as “DICE” is organized by the Idaho National Laboratory.

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, USA 11 May 2026—CIMdata, Inc., the leading global PLM strategic management consulting and research firm, announces that Alan Mendel, CIMdata’s Chief Strategy & Operations Officer, will be featured as a speaker at the upcoming DICE event. The event will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, from May 12 to 13.

The presentation, AI in Industry: What Survey Data Reveals About AI Adoption Across Product Development and Engineering, will share exclusive data from CIMdata's global AI in PLM study. It will show how organizations are currently driving...

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How manufacturers can evolve beyond PDM using use-case-driven PLM capabilities

Takeaways

• PLM modernization must align with operational reality, not force disruptive transformation.
• A secure, connected system of record is foundational to digital continuity. Manufacturers require governed, accessible product data with strong security and controlled access across the lifecycle.
• PLM value is increasingly delivered through modular, use-case-driven capabilities. Web-based modules, such as Engineering Change Management, enable rapid deployment and faster time to value without requiring a full platform replacement.
• Hybrid architectures provide a practical bridge between legacy environments and modern PLM capabilities. They allow organizations to maintain...

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Lifecycle approach delivers improved design, efficient service

Takeaways

• Design for Service (DfS) requires industrial enterprises to integrate service considerations into the earliest lifecycle stages to ensure products are optimized for efficient, scalable, profitable service operations.
• The ability to deliver better service enables companies to create new service-based business models (e.g., usage-based or performance-based contracts, extended warranties) that can drive new business and increase profitability.
• Asset-centric, configuration-aware service supported by a PLM-managed digital product passport is foundational to modern Service as Designed business models.
• Service as Designed delivers better, more efficient service, reduces service and warranty costs,...