Tag Archives: PLM Green Themes

PLM and Sustainability

Summary & Goals

The goal of the PLM Green Global Alliance discussion forum and working group on the intersection of PLM and Sustainability, led by Jos Voskuil, is to promote activities that positively contribute to the seventeen United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. In particular, we will focus on those topics where PLM-enabling technologies have a role to make a difference; relevant for the SDGs 7-8-9-11 and 12.

The general subject of Sustainability is a very wide and diverse topic that is globally covered by many organizations. Our alliance will focus on the application and value of PLM-related strategies, technologies, software solutions and consulting services to contribute to a more Sustainable future. This is a subject matter that no other professional PLM organization have taken up as a priority, though more industrial users and solution providers are increasingly interested.

Theme Moderators

Jos Voskuil, PLM Coach and Consultant at www.virtualdutchman.com

tacit@planet.nl

Ilan Madjar, Co-founder xLM Solutions

imadjar@xlmsolutions.com

Focus & Objectives

The goals and challenges of Product Lifecycle Management and Sustainability share much in common and should be considered synergistic. Where in theory, PLM is the strategy to manage a product along its whole lifecycle, Sustainability is concerned not only with the product’s lifecycle but should also address sustainability of the users, industries, economies, environment and entire planet in which the products operate.

The most significant difference between PLM and Sustainability is in the traditional lifecycle of products. Manufacturers often do not take their products’ full lifecycle footprint and costs into account. Reducing products and processes that create waste and are a negative impact on the planet’s lifecycle have only recently become more important and are still not a priority in many industries.

Like modern PLM practices, Sustainability also requires systems thinking. Solving one of the 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) can positively or negatively influence the other Sustainability Development Goals. In the same manner, developing a product should also be performed through the lens of system thinking. The product lifecycle starts from choosing its solution concept (i.e., which materials and what environmental impact) through its manufacturing process, then usage and finally its recycling or repurposing. The goal is to avoid a landfill.

We passionately believe that implementing data-driven, end-to-end PLM practices can help organizations to understand, measure, and analyze the consequences of their product design, methods of production, and supply chain choices on the planet’s lifecycle. Investigating, documenting, and minimizing this impact with examples is a key objective of the PLM and Sustainability discussion group.

Specific topics we wish to discuss further in this forum include how PLM can be used to:

  • Make products and processes more efficient and green
  • Understand and measure the impact on the carbon footprint of design decisions and production processes, along with changes to them
  • Develop, distribute, and use new sources of renewable green energy
  • Design products and their lifecycles to be sustainable
  • Recycle, reuse, or repurpose assets, materials, and natural resources
  • Enhance the resiliency and Sustainability of infrastructures, communities and economies

We invite others to nominate additional topics important to their businesses and then help us to prioritize our efforts going forward.

Agenda & Activities

We will be pursuing our objectives by a plan selected from several elements which may include: topical focus groups, virtual roundtables, articles and blog posts, book reviews, recorded interviews, industry surveys, conference presentations, webinars, and cooperation with other organizations and alliances. This plan will be developed in collaboration with members using small discussion groups. Follow our progress or better yet join us by sending an email to info@plmgreenalliance.com.

Announcements & Updates

Check back soon as we announce our activities in 2022, or register HERE to receive our news updates.

Invitation to Participate & Collaborate

To participate in our PLM and Sustainability group, we invite you to first join the PLM Green Global Alliance LinkedIn Group at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12304531/ then contact our moderator Jos Voskuil.

References & Resources

Here we have started creating a curated list of featured white papers, blog posts, presentations, case studies, webinars, and recorded interviews on the role of PLM-enabling technologies in addressing sustainability. We invite you to send us examples you have come across in your own work, company, industry, or country.to info@plmgreenalliance.com.

PLM Green Reports on PTC LiveWorx 2023 - This post was written and first published in May 2023 by PLM Green co-founder Jos Voskuil in his European Virtual Dutchman blog about PLM. Last week I enjoyed visiting LiveWorx 2023 on behalf of the PLM Global Green Alliance. PTC had invited us to understand their sustainability ambitions and meet… Continue Reading
Discussing PLM and Sustainability with CIMdata - Last year the PLM Green Global Alliance was excited to speak with PLM solution providers SAP, Autodesk, Dassault Systems, Sustaira, Aras, and PTC to learn about them and their customers' contributions to sustainability. This year we were equally enthused to meet with CIMdata’s Mark Reisig in a wide-ranging conversation about… Continue Reading
Discussing Sustainability with PTC - The following post was first written by PLM Green co-founder Jos Voskuil where it  appeared in his European PLM Weblog in December 2022. We are excited to close the year with the first round of the PLM Global Green Alliance (PGGA) series of interviews and panel discussions about PLM and… Continue Reading
PLM and Sustainability December 2022 - Welcome to the latest edition of PLM & Sustainability, a news digest from the PLM Green Global Alliance exploring the role of Product Lifecycle Management business strategies and enabling technologies in transitioning to a sustainable, low-carbon, circular economy. In this issue you will find: Looking Back at the Year 2022 PLM Green… Continue Reading
PLM & Sustainability Oct. 2022 - Welcome to the latest edition of PLM & Sustainability, a news digest from the PLM Green Global Alliance chronicling the role of Product Lifecycle Management enabling technologies in helping companies and industries transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon circular economy. In this newsletter you will find a compilation of recent… Continue Reading
Discussing Sustainability with Aras - The PLM Green Global Alliance recently hosted its fifth panel discussion with solution providers to explore how PLM-enabling technologies can support the drive to sustainability. These interviews expand upon a series of earlier articles, available on the PLM Green website and in the PLM Green LinkedIn Group, that examine the… Continue Reading
Discussing Sustainability with Sustaira - The PLM Green Global Alliance recently hosted its fourth interview and panel discussion exploring how PLM-enabling technologies support the sustainability imperative. These interviews expand upon our earlier articles on the Intersection of PLM and Sustainability by examining the progress towards sustainability being made by solution providers, their consulting partners and… Continue Reading
PLM & Sustainability August 2022 - Experienced Product Lifecycle Management professionals, consultants, and solution providers all know that the biggest obstacle to implementing a PLM strategy is not in technology or software, but in business organizational cultures that resist critical self-examination and change, despite being confronted by inconvenient facts which threaten their performance or even survival.… Continue Reading
News on the Intersection of PLM and Sustainability June 2022 - Welcome to the first edition of a monthly news digest from the PLM Green Global Alliance exploring the role of Product Lifecycle Management technologies in transitioning to a low-carbon sustainable circular economy. Our goal is to foster a global network that shares information between professionals who use, develop, research, market,… Continue Reading
Siemens Engineer Innovation for a Sustainable World - (May, 2022) PLM solution provider Siemens Digital Industries Software announces a new edition of Engineer Innovation focused exclusively on sustainability with the publication of "Engineer Innovation for a Sustainable World." The authors write: "Our civilization is quite literally built on oil, coal, and gas. Since the Industrial Revolution humans have… Continue Reading
Sustainability Focused PLM From DeSL - In this new white paper on the role of PLM in creating a more sustainable retail and apparel industry, the digital transformation Fashion PLM experts at DeSL write that sustainability is no loner an option because: "The bitter truth about the fashion industry is that it is one of world’s… Continue Reading
Discussing Sustainability with PLM Solution Provider Dassault Systèmes - The PLM Green Global Alliance recently hosted its third panel discussion to explore how PLM-enabling technologies are supporting the sustainability imperative. These interviews expand upon our earlier article on the Intersection of PLM and Sustainability by examining the progress in sustainability being made by PLM solution providers, their partners and… Continue Reading
Sustaira Announces Beta Version of Enterprise Sustainability Application - (April, 2022) Just months after formalizing partnerships with Siemens Digital Industries Software and low-code application platform Mendix, Sustaira proudly announces the launch of the beta version of the Sustaira Sustainability and ESG Application Platform. Among the first customers of Sustaira are organizations of all sizes, in different regions, and within… Continue Reading
Discussing Sustainability with Autodesk - The PLM Green Global Alliance recently hosted its second panel discussion exploring sustainability topics with PLM-enabling technology and solution software providers. These forums expand upon our recent article on the Intersection of PLM and Sustainability by examining the progress in sustainability being made by solution providers, their partners, and customers.… Continue Reading
Dassault Systèmes Introduces Life Cycle Assessment Solution - VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France — February 24, 2022 — Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA) today announced the launch of “Sustainable Innovation Intelligence,” its life cycle assessment solution that enables companies to minimize the environmental impacts of the products, materials and processes they create and help drive the circular economy. Fully embedded in… Continue Reading
Discussing Sustainability with PLM Solution Provider SAP - The PLM Green Global Alliance recently hosted its first in a series of panel discussions and interviews that will explore sustainability topics with enterprise PLM solution providers. These forums will extend our recent article on the Intersection of PLM and Sustainability where we next hope to learn about examples of… Continue Reading
The Balancing Act of Sustainability from Digital Engineering - The January / February 2022 issue of Digital Engineering is a theme issue focused on the contributions of digital engineering technologies, like PLM and CAE, to addressing sustainability and climate change. In the article "The Balancing Act of Sustainability" the author Tom Kevan writes about the role of PLM in… Continue Reading
The Intersection of PLM and Sustainability - First, A Few Misconceptions about PLM and Sustainability After writing my recent post The Road to Model-Based and Connected PLM, the topic that emerged to interest me the most is the contribution that “Real Product Lifecycle Management” can have to global sustainability. But first, allow me to address two widely… Continue Reading
Sustainable Product Configuration from Configit - This timely post from Configit explores the role of Configuration Lifecycle Management solutions in creating a more sustainable future where customers will have the product data necessary to make low-carbon choices. The authors write: "In a Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM) solution, the software parameters are set as the customer makes selections… Continue Reading
Digital Twins Enable Sustainability from Addnode Group - The Addnode Group of European companies has keen focus on the use of PLM-enabling technologies, like Digital Twins, to address the challenge of sustainability. They reference numerous examples in a new report that explores the role of Digital Twins in sustainability. In the report, the authors write: "Digital Twins are… Continue Reading
Achieving Sustainable Manufacturing Through PLM and CLM - Sustainability in manufacturing is a hot topic. Customers, shareholders and regulatory agencies are increasingly demanding manufacturing companies provide sustainable, carbon-neutral options for the products they design, manufacture, sell, and service. For many of these companies, most of the tools they need to do this are already available in their enterprise… Continue Reading
Designing for Sustainability with CAE Simulation from NAFEMS - This timely article in NAFEMS Benchmark, authored by MSC Software Vice President Keith Hanna, explores the role of CAE simulation in the conceptualization, design, prototyping, operational use, and recycling of greener products that contribute to a more sustainable economy and planet. Specific examples of the use of simulation referenced in… Continue Reading
Green and Digital Transformation - In the recent Engineering.com article "Green and Digital Transformation: PLM, ERP, Industry 4.0 toward Sustainable Innovation" PLM Green Global Alliance participant Lionel Grealou examines how enterprise platforms can contribute to sustainability goals. "Sustainability is on the agenda of every organization. Most OEMs and their supply chains have embraced the mantra… Continue Reading
Sustainable Aviation Requirements from ADSE - Aviation is reported to be responsible for up to 2% of all human-generated CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Reducing emissions from regional aircraft is especially important because they spend more of their flight time during short legs in less-efficient ascending power. As part of the EU's Horizon 2020 program, the… Continue Reading
An Approach to Sustainable Product Lifecycle Management (Green PLM) - The paper "An Approach to Sustainable Product Lifecycle Management (Green PLM)" is one of the earliest references to the concept of Green PLM. The paper was first presented at the 2015 Manufacturing Engineering Society International Conference (MESIC) and subsequently published in the journal Procedia Engineering. The authors C. Vila, J.V.… Continue Reading
Six Ways to Monitor Environmental Footprint from XLM Solutions - In this post the author and PLM Green Global Alliance contributor Ilan Madjar from XLM Solutions writes: "Today, the topic of climate change and environmental awareness is at the forefront of society’s thoughts and actions as well as affecting governmental policies. Every day there is growing awareness of the problems… Continue Reading
Digital Sustainability: The Path to Net Zero from Autodesk - The whitepaper "Digital Sustainability: The Path to Net Zero for Design & Manufacturing and Architectural Engineering & Construction Industries" explores the growing importance of sustainability goals for companies in AEC and MFG markets across Europe. Frost & Sullivan in partnership with Autodesk published this whitepaper with results of a quantitative… Continue Reading
Design for Sustainability from MSC - Hexagon MSC Software addresses the use of CAE software in the Design for Sustainability - "Manufacturing processes today span everything from aerospace to automotive, chemical processing to oil & gas, and electronics to shipbuilding. Yet, all these contribute to CO2 emissions and environmental pollution as well as intensive use of… Continue Reading
European Green Digital Coalition Launched - Members of the new European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC) are committing to establish science-based targets for reducing GHG by 2030 and to become climate neutral or net-zero no later than 2040. Announced by the European Commission: "The CEOs of 26 European companies have signed a Declaration to support the Green… Continue Reading
Virtual Twins and Sustainability - A report from Dassault Systemes and Accenture on the role of virtual twins in accelerating sustainability advocates the transformation of industry that will be needed to achieve sustainability goals by 2030 by developing new ways of managing products and services over their entire lifecycle using virtual digital twins. The paper examines… Continue Reading

PLM Green Global Alliance is Growing

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This post is an update on the evolution of the PLM Green Global Alliance that was originally published in Jos Voskuil’s weblog on Feb. 28.

On Friday, February 26th, the PLM Green Global Alliance (PGGA) team of international moderators had a meeting to discuss our current status and next steps for 2021 as we grow.

Continue reading →

PLM and Industry 4.0

Summary & Goals

The goal of the PLM Green discussion forum and working group on Industry 4.0, led by Lionel Grealou, is to investigate and advocate the use of PLM business strategies and software technologies that will power an Industry 4.0 vision of sustainable green manufacturing.

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is one of the core enablers to a green Industry 4.0, alongside other enterprise platforms and supporting technologies that include ERP, SCM, MES, SLM, IOT, 3D printing, etc. The smart products and smart factories resulting from Industry 4.0 can create a new low-carbon circular economy based on the principles of sustainable manufacturing.  Sustainable manufacturing requires data traceability through economically-sound processes that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources. This vision will require the technology tools, integrated processes, and data sharing that PLM is capable of providing right now.

Theme Moderators

Lionel Grealou, Managing Director 

www.xlifecycle.com/

Focus & Objectives

Sustainable manufacturing implements multiple Circular Economy principles such as: reuse, recycle, reduce, recover, reuse, repair, regenerate, re-manufacture, and waste management. As such, it becomes necessary to rethink the “product” and its functions such as how to use the product more efficiently and environmentally over its entire lifecycle. As example, leveraging all of the data created upstream of manufacturing that is authored as part of the product development process, including EBOM-MBOM alignment, CAD and CAE data, digital manufacturing, manufacturing process planning, plant simulation, technical publications, electronic work instructions, digital twins, and other PLM solution elements (process, technology and data).

Sustainable manufacturing is the creation of manufactured products through economically-sound processes that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources. It simultaneously concerns four dimensions or external factors: society, environment, economy, and  technology. It also involves sustainable engineering by expanding on how smart connected products and smart factories address the following industry requirements:

  • Product life extension
  • Part and component optimization
  • Smarter and circular design
  • End-to-end eco-innovation
  • Systems engineering, lean processes, clean data
  • Sustained growth and productivity
  • Renewable energy sources

Agenda & Activities

The agenda of this PLM Green theme group will be to explore the “intersection” of how PLM strategies and technologies enable the vision of Industry 4.0 for a more sustainable circular economy. In doing so we plan to investigate the following questions with respect to their green value:

  • How does data and product connectivity contribute to feeding smart factories, and enhancing the product lifecycle practice?
  • How to improve feedback loops and data integration upstream-downstream of new product development to contribute positively to the circular economy?
  • How to drive downstream waste reduction by improving data traceability and accessibility, with better product analytics throughout its lifecycle?
  • How to link more tightly manufacturing planning and execution?
  • How to more robustly connect and integrate engineering, manufacturing and service / maintenance process operations?
  • How to reduce time to market, with both product development and production cost optimization, integrating co-creation from the design office to the shop-floor?
  • How to align further the digital and the physical worlds, delivering more customer-centric products enabled by fully horizontally-integrated PLM strategies, taking an ecosystem approach to collaboration, leveraging more agile and continual release processes?
  • How to reduce pre-launch cost and generate downstream manufacturing improvements?

We will be pursuing the objectives using a plan selected from several activities which may include: focus discussion groups, articles and blog posts, book reviews, recorded interviews, industry surveys, conference panels, webinars, and cooperation with other organizations and alliances. The agenda will be developed in collaboration with our members and volunteers from around the world under the leadership of our theme moderator.

Announcements & Updates

Check back soon as we finalize and announce our activities for 2021. To follow our progress with periodic updates register HERE to receive our news updates or email us at info@plmgreenalliance.com.

Invitation to Participate & Collaborate

To participate in our PLM and Industyy 4.0 discussion forum, we invite you to first join the PLM Green Global Alliance LinkedIn Group at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12304531/ then contact our moderator Lionel Grealou.

References & Resources

Here we have started creating a curated list of featured white papers, blog posts, presentations, case studies, webinars, and recorded interviews on the role of PLM in powering a green Industry 4.0  We invite you to send us examples you have come across in your own work, company, industry, or country to info@plmgreenalliance.com.

Achieving Sustainable Manufacturing Through PLM and CLM - Sustainability in manufacturing is a hot topic. Customers, shareholders and regulatory agencies are increasingly demanding manufacturing companies provide sustainable, carbon-neutral options for the products they design, manufacture, sell, and service. For many of these companies, most of the tools they need to do this are already available in their enterprise… Continue Reading
Green and Digital Transformation - In the recent Engineering.com article "Green and Digital Transformation: PLM, ERP, Industry 4.0 toward Sustainable Innovation" PLM Green Global Alliance participant Lionel Grealou examines how enterprise platforms can contribute to sustainability goals. "Sustainability is on the agenda of every organization. Most OEMs and their supply chains have embraced the mantra… Continue Reading
Product Lifecycle Management in Support of Green Manufacturing - The technical paper "Product Lifecycle Management in Support of Green Manufacturing: Addressing the Challenges of Global Climate Change" is one of the earliest publications on the intersection of PLM and climate change. It was first published in the International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management. The authors Ligia-Varinia Barreto, Hannah… Continue Reading
European Green Digital Coalition Launched - Members of the new European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC) are committing to establish science-based targets for reducing GHG by 2030 and to become climate neutral or net-zero no later than 2040. Announced by the European Commission: "The CEOs of 26 European companies have signed a Declaration to support the Green… Continue Reading
Exploring the Intersection of PLM and Industry 4.0 - In this insightful Engineering.com article by Lionel Grealou on Exploring the Intersection of PLM and Industry 4.0 "It is often said that product lifecycle management (PLM) is an enabler to Industry 4.0. Enabled digital platforms include PLM, ERP, MES and many other processes, tools and technologies leveraging the Industrial Internet… Continue Reading
Cummins Planet 2050 - This Digital Engineering article describes the Cummins PLANET 2050 sustainability initiative to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while reducing consumption of natural resources. Continue Reading
PLM for Sustainable Manufacturing - PLM and Sustainable Manufacturing - PLM Green Alliance theme moderator Lionel Grealou introduces the connection between PLM and Sustainable Manufacturing in his recent blog post. Continue Reading

PLM and Circular Economy

Summary & Goals

The goal of the Circular Economy (CE) is simple: keep products and their component materials in use for a longer period of time before they are discarded or put into the trash. CE provides a vision that can inspire then motivate industries of all types to design and manufacture their products in smarter, far more sustainable ways. As a result, short-term living standards are not harmed by CE, as some may worry, but instead they are sustained for the long term due to reduced extraction of the planet’s finite resources with less impact on the environment. Continue reading →

PLM and Green Energy

Summary & Goals

The goal of the PLM and Green Energy working group, led by Bjorn Fidjeland, within the PLM Green Global Alliance is to promote discussion and awareness of how Plant and Product Lifecycle Management strategies and enabling technologies can support the transition to green renewable energy sources.

Theme Moderators

Bjorn Fidjeland, Advisor at plmPartner.com

info@plmpartner.com

Focus & Objectives

It is our firm belief that Plant & Product Lifecycle Management philosophies, strategies, systems, and software can play an important role to safely and more cost effectively:

  • design, build, operate, maintain and decommission green energy production plants
  • operate and maintain future energy storage units and distribution grids
  • design, build, operate and maintain production facilities for products needed in the transition to green and renewable energy
  • design, build, service and operate products needed to achieve a net zero emission society

Our objective is to share experiences, examples, and best practices in a collaborative mode to promote discussion, learning, and understanding with respect to the mentioned focus areas. We also plan to publish our own “industry heads up” news, articles and case studies illustrating all that is happening in the global race towards “going green” and a low-carbon economy.

Agenda & Activities

We will be pursuing our objectives by an agenda selected from a number of elements including: focus discussion groups, published articles and blog posts, recorded interviews, industry surveys, conference presentations, and cooperative events and alliances with other organizations. These objectives will be developed and prioritized in collaboration with our international members. Follow our progress or better yet join us with an email to info@plmgreenalliance.com.

Announcements & Updates

Check back soon as we finalize and announce our activities for 2021, or register HERE to receive our news updates.

Invitation to Participate & Collaborate

To participate in our PLM and Green Energy group, we invite you to first join the PLM Green Global Alliance LinkedIn Group at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12304531/ then contact our moderator Bjorn Fidjeland HERE.

References & Resources

Here we have started creating a curated list of featured case studies, white papers, blog posts, presentations, webinars, and interviews on the role of PLM-enabling technologies in creating, storing, and distributing green energy. We invite you to send us resources and examples you have come across in your own work, company, industry, or country to info@plmgreenalliance.com.

Discussing PLM and Sustainability with CIMdata - Last year the PLM Green Global Alliance was excited to speak with PLM solution providers SAP, Autodesk, Dassault Systems, Sustaira, Aras, and PTC to learn about them and their customers' contributions to sustainability. This year we were equally enthused to meet with CIMdata’s Mark Reisig in a wide-ranging conversation about… Continue Reading
Hydrogen Electric Powered Regional Jets - This green aviation example from Aviation Week describes how "proponents of hydrogen-electric propulsion are pushing deeper into short-haul air transportation with deals that could see the conversion of large turboprops and regional jets and the first zero-emissions commercial passenger flights with smaller aircraft as soon as 2024." The article goes… Continue Reading
Battery Modeling from COMSOL - As more products, industries and economies become electrified to meet greenhouse gas emission goals, the performance of batteries and sustainability of their production is becoming increasing important. Engineering.com has published a new white paper on battery modeling using multiphysics simulation software from CAE solution provider COMSOL. The authors write that… Continue Reading
Net Zero by 2050 from IEA - The International Energy Agency has published a new report "Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector." The authors write in their introduction that "The number of countries announcing pledges to achieve net-zero emissions over the coming decades continues to grow. But the pledges by governments to… Continue Reading
Hydrogen Powered Regional Aircraft from ZeroAvia - "Propelling their mission towards delivering airlines zero-carbon, hydrogen-fueled flight, ZeroAvia is launching the development program for a 2MW hydrogen-electric powertrain for full-size regional aircraft. The program kick-off is supported by a new raise of $24.3 million, led by Horizons Ventures, joined by a new investor British Airways. Existing investors Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Ecosystem Integrity… Continue Reading
European Green Hydrogen Infrastructure - PLM Green Moderator Bjorn Fidjeland shares good news about a consortium to develop a green energy hydrogen infrastructure in this European news release about: "The seven companies in the GET H2 initiative are working to facilitate green hydrogen in refineries, steel production and other industrial uses, which could reduce 16m… Continue Reading
European Green Digital Coalition Launched - Members of the new European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC) are committing to establish science-based targets for reducing GHG by 2030 and to become climate neutral or net-zero no later than 2040. Announced by the European Commission: "The CEOs of 26 European companies have signed a Declaration to support the Green… Continue Reading
Resourcing the Energy Transition - PLM Green Alliance moderator Bjorn Fidjeland recommends reading the KPMG report on "Resourcing the energy transition: making the world go round" which explores the transition to renewable energy, a growing dependence on natural resources other than oil, and the crucial link to the circular economy. From the KPMG website "A… Continue Reading
Digital Twins for Hydroelectric Power from Akselos - This green energy case study from Akselos profiles the use of Digital Twin modeling and CAE simulation in hydroelectric power generation that uses pumped storage where a reservoir is filled with water at times of excess power availability. Read more details HERE. Continue Reading
Riversimple and Siemens Collaborate on Hydrogen Vehicle Production - Riversimple and Siemens have begun collaborating towards sustainability and circular economy in the auto industry by preparing for the manufacture of Riversimple’s new hydrogen powered electric vehicle, the Rasa.  Read more HERE. Continue Reading
Minesto and TECHNIA Collaborate to Develop Renewable Energy - This green energy example from the PLM solution provider TECHNIA illustrates the application of PLM technologies, like those available from their partner Dassault Systemes, to develop renewable energy from ocean and tidal currents. Read more HERE. Continue Reading
Floating Wind Turbines Buoy Hopes of Expanding Renewable Energy - This Wall Street Journal article Floating Wind Turbines Buoy Hopes of Expanding Renewable Energy looks at offshore wind farms that no longer need to be embedded in the seafloor but can float in deeper waters. Continue Reading
Greenhous Gas Emissions by Sector - The data from Our World in Data is a useful resource about the source of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions by sector of the economy, and thus where PLM technologies may have the most value. Continue Reading

PLM and Climate Change

Summary & Goals

The goal of the PLM Green discussion forum and working group on Climate Change, led by Klaus Brettschneider, is to investigate and validate the use of PLM-enabling business strategies and software technologies that can reduce human-generated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We hope to clearly answer the question of what is the role, potential, and value of PLM in addressing the most important challenge facing humankind this century, climate change.

Theme Moderators

Klaus Brettschneider

greenplm.klaus@gmail.com

Richard McFall

rich@plmalliances.com

Focus & Objectives

Product Lifecycle Management strategies and systems allow organizations to manage a product’s lifecycle in all its aspects including structures, components, materials, suppliers, and ingredients. Managing the lifecycle from inception to disposal allows organizations today to optimize manufacturing processes, to document its material or ingrediencies composition and to make sure that products comply with local or international regulations.

We firmly believe that PLM can help organizations to understand and analyze the effect of its product design, methods of production, and supply chain choices on their carbon footprint. Accordingly, we seek to educate, collaborate, and advocate for the role of PLM business strategies, enabling technologies, software solutions, and professionals in addressing climate change due to human-generated greenhouse gas emissions.

This includes how the application of PLM tools, processes, and best practices can help assess, reduce, mitigate, and adapt our industries, communities, and economies to the rapidly-intensifying effects of climate change. As example, candidate topics from which we hope to research and document the use of PLM-enabling technologies include:

  • make products and processes more efficient, sustainable, and green
  • understand the impact on carbon footprint of design and production processes and changes to them
  • providing data and processes for performing Life Cycle Assessment
  • decarbonize entire industries and economies
  • find and develop new sources of renewable green energy
  • store and transmit alternative energy supplies
  • reduce or sequester human-made carbon emissions
  • capture naturally produced greenhouse and methane gasses
  • pioneer and deploy green manufacturing processes
  • design products and their lifecycles to be environmentally friendly
  • simulate and test global geoengineering technologies as solutions
  • recycle, reuse, or repurpose assets, materials, and natural resources
  • minimize or mitigate the damages to infrastructures from global warming
  • monitor a warming planet, changing weather patterns, and impact of climate change
  • enhance the resiliency and sustainability of industries, communities and economies

Agenda & Activities

We will be pursuing the objectives by an agenda composed of a number of elements including discussion groups, virtual roundtables, published articles, interviews, industry surveys, and cooperative events with other organizations. Follow our progress, or better yet join us, with an email to info@plmgreenalliance.com.

Announcements & Updates

International members of the PLM Green Global Alliance (PGGA) met recently to discuss the timely new book “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need.” The panel discussion was moderated by PGGA co-founder Jos Voskuil with participants Klaus Brettschneider, Lionel Grealou, Patrick Hillberg, Ilan Madjar, and Richard McFall. Listen to the discussion HERE.

Invitation to Participate & Collaborate

To participate in our PLM Green theme sub-group we invite you to first join the PLM Green Global Alliance LinkedIn Group at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12304531/ then contact one of our moderators.

References & Resources

Here we have started creating a curated list of featured white papers, blog posts, presentations, case studies, webinars, and recorded interviews on the role of PLM-enabling technologies in addressing climate change. We invite you to send us examples you have come across in your own work, company, industry, or country to info@plmgreenalliance.com.

Climate Change Chronicles December 2022 - This month's Climate Change Chronicles from the PLM Green Global Alliance provides a quick-to-scan summary of news from around the world during December 2022 about the changing climate and its impact on people and the planet. Our good news question of the month: what laboratory announced a breakthrough in nuclear… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest November 2022 - The latest Climate Change news digest, prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance, summarizes the most substantial news from around the world during the month of November 2022 about the changing climate and progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This month's good news question: what US state announced… Continue Reading
Climate Change Chronicles August 2022 - The latest Climate Change Chronicles news digest, prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance, summarizes substantial news from around the world during the month of August, 2022 about the worsening climate and progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This month's good news question: what is the name of… Continue Reading
PLM & Sustainability August 2022 - Experienced Product Lifecycle Management professionals, consultants, and solution providers all know that the biggest obstacle to implementing a PLM strategy is not in technology or software, but in business organizational cultures that resist critical self-examination and change, despite being confronted by inconvenient facts which threaten their performance or even survival.… Continue Reading
Climate Change Chronicles July 2022 - Climate change is not a short news story that can be told in one post, but is a long narrative that will span decades in which history will judge humanity for what we did and did not do as we individually and collectively bear witness. The latest Climate Change Chronicles… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest June 2022 - The latest Climate Change News Digest, prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance, summarizes news from around the world about the changing climate and progress in decarbonizing the global economy. Our good news question of the month: what percentage of US power came from renewable sources in the… Continue Reading
Decarbonizing the Atmosphere Opportunities and Cautions - “Decarbonizing the Atmosphere: Opportunities and Cautions” is a comprehensive article written for engineering professionals in the Spring 2022 issue of The Bent magazine from the Tau Beta Pi engineering professional society. The article summarizes the massive scope of the technical challenge to stop emitting new greenhouse gasses, like C02 and… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest May 2022 - The latest Climate Change News Digest, prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance, summarizes the most important monthly news from around the world about the changing climate and progress in decarbonizing the global economy. Our good news question of the month: what is the "First Movers Initiative" announced… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest April 2022 - The latest Climate Change News Digest for April 2022, prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance LinkedIn Group, summarizes in one place the most important monthly news from around the world about the changing climate and progress in decarbonizing the global economy. Our good news question of the month:… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest March 2022 - The latest Climate Change News Digest for March 2022, prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance, summarizes recent news about the changing climate and efforts to decarbonize the global economy. While GHG emissions and climate trends remain alarming, as evidenced in the latest IPCC assessment, there is encouraging… Continue Reading
IPCC 6th Report Climate Change 2022 - The IPCC has released the second part of the Sixth Assessment Report, "Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability" during the 12th Session of Working Group II and 55th Session of the IPCC. A summary of important policy statements extracted from the report include the following: "Human-induced climate change, including more frequent… Continue Reading
Digital Technologies and the Environment from Diplo - A discussion on "Digital Technologies and the Environment: A Synergy for the Future" was held on February 17, 2022 that was promoted by the NGO event organizer Diplo, as: "Digital technologies can amplify efforts to mitigate climate change and, as such, are becoming part of environmental and digital policies on… Continue Reading
Did Engineers Cause the Climate Crisis? - In this provocative article from Digital Engineering "Engineers Caused the Climate Emergency - Only We Can Save the World From It" the author Stephen Ferguson writes: "If we are going to avoid, or even mitigate, the devastating effects of anthropological climate change, then, in the next twenty to thirty years,… Continue Reading
PLM Plays Part Tracking Carbon Footprint in DE - In this Digital Engineering commentary, PLM Green Global Alliance contributor and climate change theme moderator Klaus Brettschneider examines the role of PLM in tracking the carbon footprint of products and processes. Download and read the full article HERE. Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest January 2022 - The latest Climate Change News Digest for January 2022, prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance, summarizes recent news about the changing climate, including preliminary data from calendar year 2021. While many of the atmospheric climate trends are still negative, it does not diminish the recent progress in… Continue Reading
Speed & Scale Climate Action Plan – Book Discussion - The PLM Green Global Alliance invites current and future followers to participate in a review and discussion of the new book from esteemed venture capitalist John Doerr, “Speed & Scale: An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now.” Learn more about this very timely book and what others have… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest November 2021 - The latest Climate Change News Digest, prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance, summarizes considerable good news from the UN COP26 conference on the growing urgency of world leaders and business leader to move faster to decarbonize the global economy. The  good news question of the month: how… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest for October 2021 - The latest Climate Change News Digest prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance summarizes a significant number of news items from October 2021 on the climate crisis and the growing movement to decarbonize the global economy. The good news question of the month: which country announced its intent… Continue Reading
Science Based Targets Initiative - The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling companies to set science-based emissions reduction. Science-based targets provide companies with a clearly-defined path to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals. The PLM Green Global Alliance recommends the SBTi website at… Continue Reading
Dassault Systemes Announces Climate Commitment - Leading PLM solution provider Dassault Systemes has announced its commitment to reducing its own carbon footprint at https://www.3ds.com/sustainability/compass. The company endorses the Science-based Targets initiative and Net Zero Emissions Timeline to help meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and support the global response… Continue Reading
The Role of PLM in Tracking Carbon Footprint - In Part 1 of this series of posts from the PLM Green Global Alliance on the Role of PLM in Slowing Climate Change we identified four primary opportunities to employ Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) in reducing, mitigating, or adapting to climate change from human-generated Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, most importantly… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest September 2021 - This month’s Climate Change News Digest prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance summarizes the latest news not just about the changing climate but the growing momentum to decarbonize the global economy. Our good news question of the month: how many international companies have now joined The Carbon… Continue Reading
GHGSat Methane Emissions Monitoring - A new generation of orbiting satellites is producing remote sensing data to help visualize and identify sources of Greenhouse Emissions emissions, like those from methane. This example image from a recent BBC article is produced by GHGSat's Pulse interactive mapping solution Methane is a more powerful GHG, compared to carbon… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest August 2021 - The month’s Climate Change News Digest prepared for busy followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance summarizes the latest news from the end of summer while many of us were out on vacation. It was not a good month for the planet due to the record heat, droughts, and wildfires… Continue Reading
IPCC 6th Assessment Report - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) prepares comprehensive Assessment Reports about the state of scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for reducing the rate at which climate change is taking place. In the IPCC 6th Assessment on Climate Change, "the… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest July 2021 - Climate Change Digest good news question of the month: Along what country's coast is the world's largest tidal energy turbine being installed? Read on to find the answer in the latest Climate Change News Digest prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance. The previous month of June 2021… Continue Reading
Carbon Capture From Climeworks and Accenture - Climeworks https://climeworks.com/ and Accenture http://www.accenture.com/ are collaborating to use new digital technologies to develop a carbon direct air capture and storage plant in Iceland. The carbon removed from the atmosphere will be sequestered underground where in two years it will turn to stone. This can certainly help as one component… Continue Reading
The Role of PLM in Slowing Climate Change – Part 1 - This new series of posts by Klaus Brettschneider and Richard McFall, contributing members of the PLM Green Global Alliance (PGGA), will explore how Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) can be used to slow climate change by reducing human-generated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide and methane are the… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest June 2021 - Climate Change Digest good news question of the month: What European country announced a technology breakthrough in producing reduced-carbon iron? Read on to find the answer in this month’s Climate Change News Digest prepared for followers of the PLM Green Global Alliance. NOAA reported that in May the Mauna Loa… Continue Reading
Climate Change News Digest May 2021 - Climate change good news question of the month: What country’s federal court was the latest to rule that their government has a responsibility to protect young people from harm and injury due to the climate crisis? Read on to find the answer in this month’s Climate Change News Digest prepared… Continue Reading