Once upon a time the internet was born.  It was amazing and computer technology flourished, and just like any other time in history, there were entrepreneurs looking to leverage this new platform.  During that time there were a wave of “dot-coms” that entered the arena.  The ideas were good, the technology was there, but many failed.

It was in the late 1990s, and the economy was good!  The dot-com phenomenon produced overnight millionaires and money flowed like water.  It all came crashing down in the early 2000s as the economy began to cool. The dot-com philosophy of “grow fast and look at the financials later” had reached its peak and had come to the downswing.

Nobody thought it would end so quickly.  And that’s the point…how do you survive? Innovation that excites people, creates new careers, and intrigues investors is good.

We have seen this again with the introduction of apps and tablets.  It is technology and innovation that is accessible, creates dialogue, and imagination.

What is really interesting, is that manufacturers and manufacturing software providers have been on this ride for a long time. They have continuously developed and implemented new technology in order to remain relevant.

It starts with a basic foundation or framework.  Well designed business processes are the backbone of the successful implementation of new and visionary products and services.  If the process is well-defined, then it is easier to execute the integration of inspiration.

The business process is also the platform for collaboration, product life cycle, and decision making.  All of these components work together to create longevity.  This is what was missing from the dot-com era.  Millionaires were made overnight, but the relevance of the technology was soon eclipsed by other visionary products because there was little attention given to the business process and new ideas.

Infor PLM Discrete is a key component for discrete manufacturers.  It is the platform that manages product life cycle and all the activities from conception to launch.

How is Infor PLM Discrete key?  It provides insight to all employees from the products’ conception.  Every part of the development process is visible.  From the CAD integration to the user interface, PLM Discrete is designed to save valuable time and man hours in the product life cycle, thus making collaboration and decision making easier and more effective.

All of this equals shorter development time, and expedited “to market” products that create competitive advantage. Oh yeah, and staying power for your business!