Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1406534
26 SMT007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2021 es. In my experience, the most successful prod- uct companies typically have a leader who has an intense focus on delivering high-quality, in- novative products on time and under budget. Oen, it's the head of operations who is re- sponsible for making sure the product can be built and delivered to customers. ey must make sure that all internal and external teams working from design through manufacturing are collaborating on the latest design to meet the company's product launch goals. Regardless of who has the ultimate respon- sibility for NPI success, it's critical to have a transparent process. If any aspect of the prod- uct design is a problem, then the right stake- holders can be alerted to the problem. Oen, lower-level teams can recommend a solution or fix without involving management or se- nior leaders. However, if the problem is com- plex and requires management approval to de- termine the best course of action, then using a PLM or QMS system allows anyone to quick- ly notify the right person of the problem so it can be resolved as quickly as possible. e full product record and history of team collabo- ration is stored in the digital thread, ensuring decision-makers have the right information to make an informed decision. Johnson: We recently published an issue of the magazine on the designer-to-EMS com- munication channel. Not surprisingly, both sides of that conversation feel that commu- nication is inefficient and error prone. Based on the work you're doing now, look out five years and tell me what will change between now and then. Lewis: Yes, we hear that, too, when we work with companies that are struggling to improve their processes. PLM and QMS systems have been evolving rapidly and the cloud has helped many companies leapfrog their competi- tion. Whether you are a consumer electronics manufacturer, medical device manufactur- er, or industrial product manufacturer, you still have to get great products to market fast- er than your competitors to stay alive in this global economy. We see smart technologies like the Internet of ings (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and augmented reality (AR) having a huge im- pact on both our customers and how we help them design and deliver products that meet their consumers' needs. At PTC, we see the entire experience of bringing the digital to physical reality as the key to future success. So, the ability to have a persistent digital thread is the glue that will al- low tomorrow's manufacturers to succeed. We are working with cross-functional teams across PTC's SaaS business unit now to build the so- lutions that will help companies thrive in the years ahead. And, while you asked about a five- year horizon, we are already starting to lever- age new technologies to enable a better digital thread and digital twin. Let me leave you with this thought: We see tomorrow's teams and processes integrating more closely as engineering teams design in CAD solutions, extended teams govern and distribute those designs in PLM/QMS sys- tems, and operations teams then introduce smarter products while gathering greater in- sights with IoT smart product capabilities. And it's exciting to see how leveraging the dig- ital twin is going to help companies to better support and service their products with AR- based technologies by allowing remote teams to either repair products from afar, or field ser- vice technicians will use AR to visualize and address issues with smart glasses that high- light what they need to look for and resolve in real time. Johnson: ank you for taking the time to talk with us. SMT007 Reference 1. "Breaking Down the Barriers to Product Innova- tion," and "Streamline New Production Introduction (NPI)," arenasolutions.com.