Tom Both (Technical Director for PLM) interviews Rebecca Vosler about her experience volunteering with PLM.

The BCT exhibit at the Siemens PLM Connection 2010 showcased their new application for the iPad. Check it out!

The Grand Hall of the Conference Center is outlined with the booths of Siemen’s partners which lends users a chance to expand their connections. Each partner is readily available to those wandering the ground floor and the first two days are a great opportunity for those companies to reach out to the PLM community. Users are free to visit during session hours, and during the Partner Sponsored Reception, there is a raffle in which customers can win prizes from select partners.

“Our partner program offers companies the opportunity to market to thousands of PLM professionals, as well as giving our members the most information we can to enhance their Siemens PLM Software implementation.” Jon Jarrett, PLM World Chair

Bob Mann from BCT

“As a Premium Partner of PLM World for both the Conference and Year-Round programs we can honestly say there is nothing that gets us in front of our targeted audiences better. The conference provides marketing through signage, technical forums and booth space, as well as designated training facilities. In the Year-Round we get advertising placed in several key web locations specific to our audience along with multiple e-mailings to the entire PLM World database. This is a great value and provides tentatively the largest audience for our marketing needs and direct contacts to our customers and prospects.” -BCT Technology

Thomas Arant from IBM

“As a PLM World partner, we can directly connect with the Siemens PLM community throughout the year, to showcase our solutions and better understand customer needs. PLM World Connections provides an invaluable opportunity to meet with Siemens PLM representatives, other partners, and, of course, our joint customers, for stimulating and engaging conversations.” -Microsoft

Karl Engler from TATA Technologies

“As a long time Siemens Solution partner, our PLM World partnership demonstrates SDI’s further commitment to the end users of the Community. PLM World also provides us with a marketing venue for promoting our ancillary tools to an international base of users. Simply put, the partnership benefits are significantly greater than the outlay.” -SDI

Without the partners present here, the Siemens PLM Connection would simply pale in comparison to the lively atmosphere they provide. Along with the obvious business benefits, the partner exhibits help to increase networking and connectivity between companies and customers.

Thank you, partners!

The PLM World Board opened Wednesday morning by annoucing the new members (Congratulations!). Raj Khoshoo, Siemens PLM, and John Manderfield, PLM World/Consolidated Container Company, followed with a presentation on sustainability within engineering and design and the lasting impact these decisions will have on the environment and economy.

John Manderfield (left) and Raj Khoshoo (right) presenting Sustainability: Is It Green Or Red?

Sustainability has been a word associated with the controversy of the climate change or “going green.” However, the concept of conserving natural elements and energy is undisputed. Companies that are starting to conserve within their production and practices see the great reward in doing so. Even something as simple as switching the current light bulbs with those that are energy saving can save half a ton in carbon dioxide emmissions and around €250 ($306.58) per bulb. The energy saving bulbs have the same life span as the standard light bulbs, but they pay for themselves at the end of their life cycle.

Creating sustainable products really starts with the design. A product’s lifecycle compiles various functions that designers must consider in the initial rendering. Before, consumer appeal was one of the only considerations besides those financial; however, this can no longer continue. Designers must now consider the consumption of the product, how the product is transported and the production and waste management practices among other challenges in a product’s lifecycle. After this, companies must execute these decisions in a manner that complies with industry and regional standards. With a combined effort, a significant decrease in the depletion of resources and smog emmissions is possible, not to mention stability in the climate and a restoration of the biotic environment.

Europe is much more advanced in this area than the United States, and it is obvious that a change in design and a constant intention to conserve can make a considerable difference. It is pertinent that designers realize the opportunity to minimize our carbon footprints while it is still possible.

P.S.
-REMINDER!-
Please stop by the Siemens Training Booth to sign up for a free 30 day self-paced training membership before tomorrow, Thursday, July 1, at noon!

Although Tuesday morning started off with some rain showers and high humidity (not altogeher uncommon for Dallas), attendees filled the morning session with as much gusto as yesterday. Dora Smith held a particularly interesting session on social media in PLM which held a wealth of information for people looking to integrate new practices within their companies. Community sites like Twitter, Mysite, or LinkedIn can provide a forum for employees to exchange valuable information and recieve feedback on their products and practices.

There is an exponential push forward in an individual’s internal thought processes when there is a forum for feedback and input. A community that can collaborate and connect easily (via internet, blog, wikis, discussion threads, or community sites) will provide one person with the compiled information of hundreds or possibly thousands of their peers. Although “social media networking” seems like a looming and vague term, the concept is very simple: connect a large amount of interested people in the same field in order to increase productivity. By applying these tools, companies can increase the work flow within their employees and can extend their reach through external communities. Work time can be used more effectively with centralized information hosted on a company’s blog or within a company’s internal discussion thread, rather than searching for scattered pieces.

Companies who have integrated these new tools into their system have seen a tremendous impact on their productivity and are trying to achieve more in the world of social media. It is very obvious that the future in business will have to adjust to accomodate these tools, but it is just as apparent what the benefits will be. With a more accessible and open forum to conduct business, new opportunities will present themselves for companies using social media tools.

To follow PLM World or Siemens PLM World on Twitter, you can search @PLMWorld and @SiemensPLM. Also, check out the Siemens PLM Blog. To follow me on Twitter, search @rebeccavosler. For more updates, follow @dorasmith, @burhop, @jim_techclarity, and @baumvogel.

Are you a visual person? Photos from the 2010 Siemens PLM Connection in Dallas are on our Flickr account.

Dora Smith from Siemens PLM presenting Social Media in PLM

Industry Night started the week off with complimentary drinks and delicious hors d’oevres while attendees could mingle and reunite with market co-workers. The second floor of the Sheraton Conference Center in Dallas, TX was filled with the animated chatter of people exchanging new ideas and projects, as well as the latest news. The Registration Desk was busy well into the night with late-arriving travellers recieving their badges and programs; leaving prepared for the start of the conference.

Monday’s breakfast and Welcoming Presentations and Introductions were packed to the last seat. Jon Jarrett, PLM World Chairman, and Dave Shook, Siemens PLM, opened the conference and was directly followed by David Spade from IBM. Bob Trecapelli had some very innovative developments from Ford to present to the General Session, while Siemens covered their technological developments presented by Tony Affuso, Chairman and CEO, Helmuth Ludwig, President, and Chuck Grindstaff, EVP and CTO of Siemens PLM Software.

There was a high attendance in both the morning and afternoon sessions, especially Steve Bashada’s presentation on the Teamcenter Strategic Update which covered Teamcenter 8. Training sessions were productive, as attendees addressed multiple uses with NX, Teamcenter, and Solid Edge.

The evening’s sessions will most likely be just as full as this morning and afternoon’s, and the Welcome Reception is sure to pack the Grand Hall- a feat not so easily achieved. There is a high anticipation for tomorrow morning’s Round Table Discussions, which have filled quickly since sign-ups Sunday night. It has been a highly successful start to the conference, and we’re very excited to continue through the week!

Take a quick look at the Smart Phone App SPLM10.    This is done on the droid, but is similar on other phones.

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Give us some feedback on the Smart Phone Enabled App….
http://plmworld.org/core-apps-survey/

PLM World attendees have asked over the last couple of years for a way to create their own personal Agenda for the conference.  This is now becoming reality.   We have partnered with Core-Apps http://www.core-apps.com, and got sponsorship from Siemens PLM to develop a Smart Phone Enabled Application for Siemens PLM Connection 2010.  

This Application is enabled as an App on iPhone (including iPOD Touch),  BlackBerry, Droid, and Web for all other Web Enabled phones.   Even if  you do not have a Smart Phone, do not stop reading, as the Web Applicaton may still have some great value for you….

First – Downloading the PLM Mobile App is easy!

To download the App:
 
For Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad:
Point your browser to http://bit.ly/SPLM10 (case sensitive) or visit the  App Store and search for Siemens PLM
 
All other smartphone types:  
Point your web-enabled phone’s browser to:  http://m.core-apps.com/plmworld10 [there you can download the appropriate app for your device] 
 
WARNING:   WEB, and Standalone Applicatons do not share user data.   (Do not expect to create your schedule on your computer in the Web Version, and have your schedule, etc. carry over to iPHONE, Droid, or Blackberry Apps).  

Did you say you don’t  have a Smart Phone.   Well, I will give you two options: Step up to year 2010, and buy one of these great new devices, or use the Web Version on your computer.  Just click on the following link http://m.core-apps.com/plmworld10
-Sign-in / Create new Account
-Click on Events, Browse by Time or Technical Track, Click on a Session, Full INFO- Add to Schedule
- Go to your Dashboard
-Schedule can be Printed
-In addition you can view Partner(s), contact info, and documents they may have uploaded…

In some of the Blog Entries over the next couple of days, we will review the apps on the smart phones, and show how they can be used.

Stay tuned, and let us know if you have any questions.  

Tom Both – PLM World Technical Director

First off, this meeting saw our greatest attendance in several years – 62! Thank you all that attended! If you have attended one of our meetings in the past, thank you for returning – this shows us that we are doing something right. If this was your first meeting – welcome! We hope that you saw something that interested you and hopefully held some value with you. We look forward to seeing you again!

Special thanks goes to Stephanie Wagg and Diane Munoz of Siemens PLM Software for all of their help behind the scenes with getting this meeting set-up at the Cypress, CA Siemens offices.

John Baker started us of with his ever popular “John Baker Show” otherwise known as “What’s New in NX7.0”. He was also given special permission to give us a sneak-peek at NX7.5! Very exciting stuff!

After a short break, Michael Coleman informed us as to “What’s New in Teamcenter 8.0”.

Following Lunch, we had 2 rounds of breakout sessions covering the following topics:
* NX CAE Update
* NX7.0 Preview
* Managing Electronics MCAD, ECAD & Software
* Ovierview of Siemens Controllers
* Part Assembly/Planning & Simulation
* PMI – The shift from paper to electronic

We are hoping to increase the frequency of meetings to one in the Spring and one in the Fall. Part of this depends upon whether or not we can find another place to hold the meetings. As it stands now, we are bursting the seams of the Siemens Cypress office.

Again, we thank all of you that attended! Hope to see you in the Spring of 2010!

Follow these easy steps to create a post yourself! It’s quick and easy:

- Click the above link “Log in here to start a blog”

- Create a user name and fill in your email address to receive your Word Press password

-Check your email in-box for an email from webguy@plmworld.org

-Follow the link in your email to activate your Word Press account

-You will be taken to a PLM World page with your user name/password (make sure to save these)

-Select the link to log in

-Enter your log in information and password

-You should now see your PLM World Blog Dashboard (if you are having problems here please email me at kkenyon@plmworld.org)

-On the right you will see a box labeled “Quick Press” this is where you can enter your post!

-Fill in a catchy title and use the content box to share your ideas/thoughts with PLM World members

-When finished you can save as a draft if you would like to finish it at a later date, or you can submit for review.

-Once you submit your post for review it will be sent to PLM World for review and posted to PLM World’s Blog site immediately

-From there all members will be able to view your blog!!

Looking for a more advanced post?

-Once logged into word press, rather than entering in your post in the “Quick Press” take a look to the left and click on “Posts”—“Add New”

-This will bring you to a more advanced content box

-The top tool bar is for your Title, whereas the second large box is for your main post

-As you can see you have a visual tab, as well as an html tab if you prefer

-Here you will find a large tool bar filled with text options, graphic uploads, charts/ect. Take a look at this tips & tricks page for a better understanding of all the available options! http://wpmama.com/tips-tricks/series-wordpress-visual-editor-tool-bar-introduction/

-Take a look at http://codex.wordpress.org/Writing_Posts for descriptions of Post Fields

-Continue to complete your post, and as in the earlier steps either save draft, or submit for Review!

Good Luck and I look forward to seeing your posts soon!!