PLM Green Global Alliance participant Mark Reisig from CIMdata has authored a comprehensive thought leadership paper on PLM and Sustainability.
In his signature paper, Mark details the defining challenge of our time for technologists, engineers, and innovators to decarbonize the global economy to minimize greenhouse gas emissions that are quickly warming the planet. And to do so while we still have time – this decade – before the worse effects of climate change are experienced or planetary tipping points breached.
In the introduction Mark writes:
“Sustainability is not just an energy problem but impacts all our products—how we design, manufacture, operate, reuse, refurbish, and recycle them. Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is central to sustainability. I believe there’s a tremendous opportunity in an economy that rewards carbon-free sustainability, enabling profitability while respecting people and our planet.”
Yet more important than just defining the technical challenges, the author identifies nine elements that represent opportunities to apply PLM-enabling strategies, technologies, and processes in manifesting a sustainable low-carbon circular economy. These include:
- Embedding Sustainability in PLM
- Sustainability Goal Setting & Measurement
- Design for Sustainability
- Reducing your Product Carbon Footprint
- Decarbonizing the Supply chain
- Circular Economy
- Digital Twins, Digital Thread, IoT, and More
- Systems Thinking
- People and Education
Mark closes his paper with reference to the personal responsibilities and professional opportunities that those of us working in PLM now have before us:
“We all inhabit the same planet and atmosphere, breathe the same air, and want a sustainable Earth for our children. I believe the desire and the intent are there, but the impact is not. The ability to execute is just starting to be learned now. CIMdata believes sustainability needs to be embedded into PLM to reduce a product’s PCF, decarbonize a company’s supply chain, and engage in more sustainable design practices, circular processes, and business models. We believe there is a tremendous opportunity as our economy transitions to one that rewards carbon-free sustainability, and lack of waste—one that enables profitability while respecting people and our planet.”
This timely paper is available for downloading HERE from CIMdata where Mark as an Executive Consultant is the Sustainability & Green Energy Practice Director. Mark also contributes his expertise alongside Jos Voskuil as the co-moderator of the PLM & Sustainability SIG theme and principal moderator of the PLM & Green Energy SIG theme.
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(Featured image courtesy of CIMdata.)