- Free Version: Available for teams of up to 10
- Pricing: Premium plan $24/month (with a free 30-day trial period)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why use SafetyCulture?
SafetyCulture is one of the most comprehensive workplace tools available today. It can handle multiple aspects of safety and quality management, which is why it works great as Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software. This app allows you to conduct inspections, gather data and analytics, and comprehensively manage product lifecycles. It also comes with communication features, so it’s much easier to ensure that everyone in the organization is on the same page.
Features:
- Conduct product inspections, evaluations, and audits at all lifecycle stages with the use of smart checklists
- Gather and analyze various information and insights about your products along the production and sales lines
- Build customized workflows based on your company’s PLM practices
- Communicate product updates and similar information with the entire organization with the use of one app
- Manage projects from a centralized place, keeping everyone on the same page
Why use Teamcenter X?
Developed by Siemens, Teamcenter X helps organizations take charge of their entire PLM process. Since it’s designed for PLM, it can help you with every process, from ideation to end-of-life management. You can take control of all aspects of PLM from one place, which is why Siemens remains to be one of the most popular PLM options available today.
Features:
- Product data management
- Change management
- Workflows
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Custom pricing (with a free 30-day trial period)
- Platforms supported: Web, PC, iOS, Android
Why use Arena PLM?
Arena Solutions can help with compliance, development, quality maintenance, and more, making it a great pick for PLM. This comprehensive tool can help you with the many aspects involved in PLM. With this app, you can keep your supply chain on track and ensures all employees are on the same page.
Features:
- Quality management
- Shipping management
- Product record control
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Custom pricing
- Platforms supported: Web, PC
Why use Windchill?
PTC’s Windchill is one of the ultimate solutions for managing your product’s entire lifecycle. Since there are so many aspects to PLM, PTC Windchill comes with a giant feature set that includes a native PLM platform, CAD, and even augmented reality. This is a great investment for companies looking to bring their processes, especially PLM, into the future.
Features:
- Augmented reality
- Data organization
- Time-to-market reduction
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Custom pricing
- Platforms supported: Web, PC
Why use Aras?
Aras is an open-source PLM tool, making it very scalable and easy to customize. With Aras, you get a singular sustainable platform to manage the entire PLM system. This speeds up the PLM process, making it easier to ensure products are top-quality and delivered on time. It even has end-of-life tools, an indispensable feature for modern PLM software.
Features:
- Change management
- Open source
- Objective tracking
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Custom quote
- Platforms supported: Web, PC
Why use Autodesk Vault?
Autodesk Vault is one of the more popular PLM tools available today. The software has all the features you need for managing product data, BOMs, and change. You can also use this platform on a global scale, making it ideal for larger companies as well. The software covers everything you’ll need for PLM, which is why it’s the top choice for many companies worldwide.
Features:
- Design automation
- Billing order management
- Change order management
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Starts at $810/year
- Platforms supported: Web, PC
What is PLM Software?
PLM software is a digital tool designed to help manage a product’s lifecycle. Different products go through various stages, from ideation and manufacturing all the way to the end of their lifecycle. It’s important for organizations to manage their product’s life cycle as it helps them track different data points to give a better idea of the status and movement of their product. It also points out different improvement areas that they can work on to increase profit, efficiency, and productivity.
Importance
In today’s digital world, storing documents and data in file cabinets is declining in popularity. Instead, they’re kept on computers and different cloud servers. When you bring your PLM process to the digital space, it allows you to easily integrate and experience all the benefits modern technology has to offer for managing products.
Not only that, but the right PLM software helps you ensure that all your products meet relevant standards and continuously improve in terms of quality. By simplifying complex production tasks, you can focus on innovating your product lines and delivering excellent service to your customer base.
Moreover, keeping track of all your products throughout their lifecycles can be a costly and complicated process. But if you adopt the right PLM software, you can optimize various production processes within your organization and save operational costs in the long run.
Key Features
While it’s crucial to select features based on your organization’s needs, it’s also important that your software has all the basic features. Some of the key features you need in any PLM software include:
- Product data management
- Workflows
- Checklists
- Mobile access
- Documentation
- Bill of Materials (BOM)
- Project management
- Data gathering and analytics
Selecting the Right PLM Software
The PLM software options listed in this article have been carefully selected and curated to cater to your business needs. To summarize things, here’s a quick comparison table of all the options to make it easier to choose the best one for your organization:
| App Name | Free Version | Paid Plan | Mobile App |
| SafetyCulture | Yes | $24/user/month* | Yes |
| Teamcenter X | No | Custom pricing | Yes |
| Arena | No | Custom pricing | No |
| Windchill | No | Custom pricing | Yes |
| Aras | No | Custom quote | No |
| AutoDesk Vault | No | $810/year | Yes |
*billed annually
Leon Altomonte