PLM and the Internet of Things (IoT)

This chapter looks at the role of the Internet of Things from the PLM viewpoint. The concept of the IoT emerged in the 1990s, although many companies didn’t start to address the subject until later. The Internet of Things, and the related Smart Products, offer companies and their customers many potential benefits. The first section of the chapter introduces the Internet of Things in the PLM environment. The second section looks, in detail, at its components. The next section describes why it’s important to understand the IoT in the PLM environment. The two following sections describe the opportunities and potential benefits of the Internet of Things. Section 9.6 of the chapter describes the potential impact of the Internet of Things in each phase of the product lifecycle. Section 9.7 outlines issues that arise around the IoT. The two following sections address typical issues and success factors of IoT projects. The final section addresses the relationship between an IoT project and the PLM Initiative.