IBM, Siemens joins hands to offer integrated solutions

NEW DELHI, INDIA: IBM and product lifecycle management software and services provider Siemens PLM Software will offer integrated solutions to help companies deliver smarter products.

The two companies will together provide products that would help companies improve the management of products throughout their lifecycle, from design and manufacturing to end-of-life planning and recycling.

They will also help simplify the process of sharing key product data and manufacturing plans, said a statement.

Siemens delivers ready-to-use solutions built on its Teamcenter PLM software portfolio and IBM WebSphere and Information Management (DB2) making use of IBM's Product Development Integration Framework (PDIF) as a development platform and primary integration environment. PDIF also enables a richer integration between Siemens Teamcenter and Rational Software Platform for Systems. Besides, IBM and Siemens will jointly provide a comprehensive range of services including consulting and implementation, systems integration, and application hosting, the statement said.

According to Michael Wheeler, Vice President, IBM PLM and Supply Chain Solutions, “Siemens PLM Software’s Teamcenter is the industry’s first PDIF-ready platform to deliver tightly integrated IBM middleware offerings that reduce PLM software acquisition and lifecycle costs. By using a flexible software environment, companies have a framework for marrying key PLM business processes to technology initiatives that offer a structured approach to managing the life of a product.”

It has been pointed out that, by exploiting the open computing flexibility of IBM's service-oriented architecture (SOA) and IBM's PDIF, companies can address the challenge of making sure millions of pieces of data and design plans are exchanged accurately throughout the product lifecycle communities.

Chuck Grindstaff, executive vice president of Products and CTO, Siemens PLM Software, said: “Companies now have access to the performance and reliability of IBM middleware combined with the scalability and instant access to product knowledge provided by Teamcenter. This combination presents a unique advantage for companies as they address the growing demand from their customers for more sustainable products.”

IBM and Siemens PLM Software are also working closely with IBM’s Business Partner network to deliver PLM to the small and medium size business community. The two will also be optimizing Siemens PLM Software applications that can run IBM server and storage devices.