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Seamless Systems
Without integration, there's no single source of truth across siloed data—and that data must be manually transferred between systems, increasing the risk of entry errors, misalignment, and delays. This wastes valuable time by slowing down product development and time to market.
Integrating PLM and ERP systems creates a centralized, continuously updated data environment that reduces manual work, improves accuracy, and helps teams focus on innovation instead of reconciliation.
Let's explore the roles of PLM and ERP systems, the operational challenges of working without integration, and the benefits of creating a seamless connection between them.
What Does a PLM Do?
Product lifecycle management (PLM) software helps process manufacturers and grocery retailers producing private label brands streamline their product development, data management, and regulatory compliance to expedite time-to-market and enhance enterprise operations.
A well-designed PLM system brings structure and clarity to every stage of the product lifecycle. It streamlines business processes while speeding innovation and empowering teams with improved decision making, resource allocation, and marketplace agility. This helps businesses align more closely with customer needs and better adapt to industry evolution.
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Accelerated time to market:
Shorter innovation cycles to capitalize on consumer trends.
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Improved team collaboration:
Product developers, regulatory compliance specialists, packaging engineers and quality managers can operate from a single source of truth.
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A more efficient product:
From idea to development, to development to distribution and beyond, find new energy in your pipeline using PLM integration to power productivity and profitability.
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A comprehensive knowledge database:
With idea scoring and data modeling, you can run an idea through a mirrored system before any resources are committed and create a knowledge database. This builds a full history of ideas for improving processes and creating the right products for your next category-defining launch.
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Controlled proprietary data:
In a digital marketplace within an Industry 4.0 ecosystem, most companies’ value is now centered in their ability to manage their proprietary data and share that knowledge internally to spur innovation. Foster those knowledge-building opportunities at every click with built-in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities.
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Ironclad compliance:
Trace every step in quality management across the entire supply chain and ensure your products are compliant in all markets in which you sell them, thanks to a centralized regulatory database for real world transparency, now and in the future.
- ERP Material
- ERP BOM
- ERP Specification
- PLM Specification
- PLM Forumlation
- PLM Material
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Integration Gaps The Problem with Disconnected Systems
Why would a company integrate ERP and PLM systems? The simple answer: to better manage product data and speed product launch.
While ERP systems are effective for transactional purposes, they often lack the change functionality needed to support cross-functional collaboration. As products evolve, it’s crucial to maintain a history of changes for both traceability purposes and to help engineering departments track up-to-date product data.
Here are a few of the problems with disconnected systems:
- Manual data entry and errors: Information must be manually re-entered between systems, increasing the risk of mistakes.
- Data inconsistencies: Product specifications, materials, and cost data often differ across systems, causing confusion and inefficiencies.
- Slower time-to-market: Without seamless communication, delays occur in manufacturing, regulatory approvals, and supply chain management.
A Single Source of Truth How PLM ERP Integration Transforms Product Development
When a company connects their ERP to their PLM system, they connect complex workflows within a single source of truth. This “digital thread” pulls through actionable data from products and PLM processes into the centralized data and processes of the entire company within its ERP.
Here are the benefits of integrating PLM and ERP systems:
Eliminate duplicate data entry with real-time syncing of product details—such as material specs, formulations, and pricing—across both systems. This reduces human error and improves efficiency.
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R&D teams can complete more accurate product testing to ensure finished product data is shared consistently across all the systems and speeds up manufacturing readiness while improving accuracy as material masters are created.
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Most products cannot be produced, bought, or shipped until a material is created or updated in your ERP system. When a new material is created in Devex PLM, the integration automatically triggers the creation of a related material in your ERP system, streamlining manufacturing processes.
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PLM and ERP integration ensures regulatory compliance by streamlining processes through centralized data. Errors are reduced, and traceability is enhanced, which helps companies address potential compliance risks.
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View material and finished product costs in your recipe trials, make real-time adjustments to formulation percentages, and set target costs to identify the most cost-effective and compliant options.
Give cross-functional teams access to the same reliable data to foster improved alignment across departments. Better collaboration and communication among departments means improved product development and efficiency.
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Real-World Impact: A Competitive Edge
Companies looking to streamline operations and enhance productivity should consider integrating their PLM and ERP systems. Trace One Devex PLM offers a robust solution for businesses seeking a “create once, use many times” approach to product data management. With automated data translation, real-time insights, and seamless communication between systems, this integration is a must-have for companies aiming for long-term success.
These options are designed to work with every level of technology budget and business process configuration, providing flexibility to use the Trace One Devex PLM system together with your vendor-specific ERP system.
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Ideation
Idea Management Project and Portfolio Management
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Concepts
Product Development Supplier Sourcing
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Viability
Automated Regulatory Compliance Product Testing
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Launch
Product Data Management
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Distribution
Portfolio Management GS1 - GDSN
- Consumer demand
- Create project and start prototyping
- Assess the new formula against regulations
- Create final product spec
- Launch and manage your porfolio
- Market
Customer Success Story
Trace One Case Study
To learn more about how a Trace One Customer—a global flavor and colors manufacturer—improved data management and collaboration with PLM, ERP and CRM integration, download our PLM ERP integration case study today.
Save time and resources by automating data updates and reduce the risk of data errors while bringing accuracy to your systems with Trace One’s ERP integration.
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