Author · 40 articles

Stephan Spijkers

Stephan Spijkers writes for the PLM Vendors knowledge base, in the series PLM Foundations, Regulation & Compliance, Product Data Stack, AI & Automation, Selection & Implementation. Every article opens with a direct answer, lists its sources and carries its review date.

PLM Foundations

001What Is PLM? Product Lifecycle Management ExplainedWhat is PLM? Product lifecycle management explained: the data it governs, core capabilities, who uses it, how it fits with ERP and PIM, and 2026 trends.
002PLM vs PDM: Scope, Users and When You Need EachPLM vs PDM explained: scope, users and data side by side, whether you need both, a checklist for moving from PDM to PLM and how the two connect in practice.
003PLM vs ERP: Where the Bill of Materials Should LivePLM vs ERP explained: what each system owns, where the EBOM and MBOM should live, how engineering changes reach ERP and what breaks when the boundary blurs.
004EBOM, MBOM and SBOM: Managing Bills of MaterialsEBOM, MBOM and SBOM explained: what each bill of materials view contains, how they relate, worked examples, variant handling and how PLM keeps them in sync.
005Engineering Change Management: ECR, ECO and ECNEngineering change management explained: how ECR, ECO and ECN work, change board roles, impact analysis, effectivity and metrics for change control.
006Cloud PLM vs On-Premise PLMCloud PLM vs on-premise PLM compared: SaaS, vendor-managed and self-hosted models, cost, customisation, security, the EU Data Act and 2026 licence shifts.
007PLM for Food, Beverage and CPG: Formulas and SpecificationsPLM and recipe management software for food, beverage and CPG compared: formulation, specification and compliance scope of nine systems, unranked and by fit.
008Fashion PLM Software Compared: Centric, FlexPLM, Lectra and MoreFashion PLM software compared: nine systems by deployment, design-tool links, supplier collaboration and brand size, plus tech packs, compliance and the DPP.
009Digital Thread in Manufacturing: Definition and PLM SupportThe digital thread in manufacturing explained: what it connects, the standards behind it and how PLM suites from Siemens, Dassault, PTC, SAP and more compare.
010PLM Total Cost of Ownership: Cost Elements and RangesPLM total cost of ownership explained: licence, implementation, integration, migration, operations and AI costs over five to seven years, with estimate ranges.
054PLM for SolidWorks and Inventor Users: Options ComparedWhich PLM works with SolidWorks or Inventor? CAD connectors, PDM coexistence and fit for mid-size discrete manufacturers, compared across nine vendors.

Regulation & Compliance

051PLM for Medical Devices: FDA QMSR and EU MDR Data NeedsPLM for medical devices: how the FDA QMSR and EU MDR shape product records, which PLM and eQMS records live where, and how Arena, Propel and others compare.