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Survey: Manufacturers Prioritizing Product Lifecycle Analysis

IDC analysts attributed the shift to increasingly complex products and operations.

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Leading manufacturers are prioritizing broader examinations of their products amid rapidly shifting economic conditions, according to a new survey from IDC Manufacturing Insights.

The report, titled "Ensuring Quality is the Primary Goal," said that manufacturers are moving away from investments in standalone engineering or service operations in favor of scrutinizing entire product life cycles — particularly Product Lifecycle Management and Service Lifecycle Management initiatives.

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IDC analysts attributed the shift to increasingly complex products and operations, a deluge of data from Internet-connected devices and other sources, sophisticated customer demands and greater competition — especially from emerging nations.

"The complexity is massive on so many fronts: product, value chain, manufacturing, and service," said Jeffrey Hojlo of IDC Manufacturing Insights. "Technologies exist today to address this complexity but the challenge ... is integrating them."

Ultimately, the report said that manufacturers hope produce innovative, high-quality products by integrating their various tech systems and leveraging their analytics.

The 2015 Product & Service Innovation Survey polled 330 mid-size and large manufacturers in North America in March and April. Each respondent maintained an active PLM or SLM operation.

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