Mastering change management with Windchill has its complications, but the secret is out. There’s an easier way to do change management with PTC Windchill Product Lifecycle Management software, and this new Windchill “cheat” may be what changes the game completely.

It’s true, PTC Windchill really is the best PLM software on the market, but along with its seemingly uncapped capabilities comes divine complexity.

And with complexity, well, often comes…frustration.

In a world where we can virtually have anything instantly at our fingertips, why should anyone be forced to learn and memorize an ever-changing, complex PLM system?!

Yet, it seems that in order to successfully capitalize on a PLM system and utilize all the features a company invested in – it’s almost unavoidable.

Time after time, we hear of instances involving Windchill users’ wasted time, energy, and clicks.

So, our company, EAC Product Development Solutions, thought to ourselves – how could we make PLM easier?

How could we simplify the user interface of PLM systems, such as PTC Windchill, to make a faster, easier and better user experience?

How could we do the same for change management within Windchill easier, better, and faster?

Not only did we figure out a very simple solution, but we also figured out how to make data access simple.

It’s easy to plugin, install, and most importantly – it changes the entire user experience of PTC Windchill.

It makes Windchill PLM easy to use, understand, and it provides an easier way to capitalize on all the features the complex system has.

We call our solution EAC Productivity Apps.

Essentially, we created and designed an easy PLM system plugin that transforms the complex user interface of Windchill and makes tasks such as creating change reports, requests and adding new variances easy!

Applications that make PLM faster

Although our PLM applications might not speed up a Windchill system directly, they will definitely decrease the time any users take to search for information.

With our Productivity Apps, infrequent PLM users no longer need to remember how many clicks they need to make or where they need to go to find information in Windchill.

In fact, anyone with access to the simple desktop applications can easily access any PTC Windchill Product Lifecycle Management information directly through their own simple personalized desktop screen.

This eliminates any and all time needed to train and learn a complex PLM system.  

Our PLM system applications were designed to relieve and entirely combat Windchill user complications.

We built them to initially enhance enterprise-wide Windchill system adoption and usage.

So let’s talk about how our Apps really work.

Our applications plug directly into your PTC Windchill system and display a simplified desktop user experience.

They push and pull data to and from your system, helping to streamline your PLM system usage and functionality.

The accessibility for users that might only need access to information housed in Windchill, perhaps only once or twice a week, will greatly benefit from the implementation of our Apps.

By opening a simple desktop application, without any training, any user can easily navigate the interface, find any product information they need, and do so all while eliminating time and lengthened processes that the basic Windchill interface requires to complete a task.

Our PLM applications give any user the Product Lifecycle Management information they need as quickly as possible. This is exactly how PLM Apps can speed up the time it takes to accomplish a simple task!

Forget the need for PTC Windchill training

The truth is, PTC Windchill systems can be complicated, especially in instances where users are not fully trained to use the software.

This is where infrequent PLM system users oftentimes research how to do this or that within their system. If this is you, you know all too well of the valuable productivity you’ve lost when searching for answers in the system help center.

You may even run into instances where you’re skipping tasks altogether (such as creating a change report), and in fact, you may even risk doing it wrong because you’ve forgotten a few steps.

To make matters worse, you might even need to disrupt others for help.

It’s because of all these reasons and more, our Productivity Apps really can change the game.

With the simple click of a button, our Apps have the ability to alleviate several daunting steps.

Over the years, our organization has worked with hundreds of Windchill users’, allowing us to continually expand our app framework and functionality based on what our customers have told us.

After all, the technology you purchase should be working for you, not the other way around.

We have had customers say, “I want a view. I want to be able to have a guy on the shop floor and a partner both be able to see everything related to a part number. I want them to see a document, a drawing, a part, or a bill of material. etc.”

Over time, what we found our customers were looking for was really any relevant data that was associated together. They wanted their data to be completely available and, in some cases, even to download.

They were unable to easily display all the information they were looking for just by doing one, simple, quick search.

That’s when our Quick Search App was born, and it was really developed just to do that.

Quick Search provides a single easily accessible view where any user can get all the relevant product data and information they need on a simple screen. It’s even downloadable and all.

Connect disparate data from unconnected systems

Our PLM Apps even have the ability to tie together data you need from siloed, unconnected systems.

Not only do these Apps help users easily find Windchill data, pull data, and make that data easier and more accessible without great changes, but they were designed to truly tie and pull data together from other siloed enterprise systems.

They have the ability to pull data from Legacy ERP or MRP systems.

For example, you could connect to your ERP system to pull quantity, along with any other relevant information, and have all your information right at your fingertips.

Forget difficulties with change management

The truth is, many organizations face difficulties with change management, and we wanted to ‘change’ that.

How? Let’s start with how our Apps alter change management in a way that makes a difference, and more importantly, how that difference makes the process easier.

Change management becomes effortless with the ability to easily customize or configure the user interface that is built on top of the ThingWorx Navigate app.

What does that mean?

Essentially, our Apps still utilize the powerful change management workflow built within Windchill to point at all of the complex, rich data in Windchill.

The difference is, they change how data is visually displayed and how your teams work together.

Hence where the  ‘productivity’ name comes in.

They provide one view into all relevant data, so your users are easily able to fill out all of their relevant change information. This is a huge benefit in comparison to having to jump back and forth between multiple screens to retrieve data or complete things inside Windchill.

By tying all necessary data into one view, not only is the user experience enhanced, but the number of clicks and picks required by a user is drastically reduced as well.

Ultimately, this is what grants your users the ability to quickly submit change requests (while it even presents the information that is needed as users fill out a simple form).

This means your team no longer has to go through the GUI or work step by step to fill out the information they need to kick-start a change request.

This is something most Windchill users don’t understand.

There are easier ways.

The best part? These ‘ways’ don’t change your system configuration, they simply sit on top of your system and re-invent the user interface to enhance the system’s abilities and most importantly, productivity. 

Our applications alleviate the need for siloed departments to interrupt other disjointed departments by providing accessible data in real-time, everywhere.

Easy task management

Not only can you easily submit a change request or problem report, but you also have the ability to easily manage tasks.

Users are able to pull up a dashboard displaying the entire task force. For instance, once a change request is submitted, you have the ability to see if that change request is being analyzed.

They provide visibility and status on task completion. This helps users easily know what they need to do, and what state that task is in.

You might be thinking, “But what about the people using change management to review and approve, and complete tasks?”

No need to worry, our Apps are equipped with that functionality too.

Managers can utilize these Applications to easily see what is going on and help them understand what they might need to review.

Users can even view open tasks, complete them and even assign tasks to other users.

The functions are endless. You can do anything that involves change management, all directly within our EAC Productivity Apps. It really is a one-stop shop.

This means anyone involved in your organization’s change management process now actually has the ability to do everything they need to do, within one single app.

So yes, I guess the truth is out – there really is an app for that.

Digital transformation has become a buzzword in recent years, and for good reason. Companies that embrace digital technologies are more likely to stay ahead of the curve, differentiate themselves in the marketplace, and meet the evolving needs of their customers.

The benefits of digital transformation can be far-reaching, from improved customer experience to cost savings and increased efficiency.

In this blog, we will explore the various benefits of digital transformation, and why it is essential for companies to embrace this trend in order to remain competitive in the digital age.

What is Digital Transformation?

Digital transformation is a term used to describe the process of transforming an organization’s business model and operations through the use of digital technologies. It’s important because it can help you stay ahead of your competition, improve customer experience and attract new customers.

See how JR Automation saved seven figures with embarking on their digital transformation journey:

Creating a Digital Transformation Roadmap

The first step to creating a digital transformation roadmap is to identify the scope of your transformation. What are you trying to achieve? What are the goals and objectives of your business? How will you measure success?

Once this has been determined, it’s time to set up a timeline for achieving those goals.

Once these steps have been completed, it’s time for action! You should now have a clear idea of what needs changing within your organization and how long it will take before those changes become visible.

Building a Digital Transformation Team

When you’re building your digital transformation team, it’s important to define roles and responsibilities. You’ll want to make sure that everyone understands their role in the process and what they are expected to do. For example, if someone is responsible for monitoring the performance of shop floor machines, they should know what the ideal OEE is of each machine, how they are going to collect that data, and how they are going to distribute it to enterprise decision makers.

It’s also important that you select team members who have complementary skillsets and experience levels. If one person has extensive knowledge of augmented reality while another knows nothing about it at all, this could lead to problems down the line when it comes time for them both to collaborate on projects together – and no one wants that!

Finally, creating a culture where collaboration happens naturally between team members will help ensure successful outcomes throughout your digital transformation project(s).

Developing a Digital Transformation Strategy

The first step to developing a digital transformation strategy is to define the scope of the project. What are you trying to accomplish? What are your objectives, and how will you measure success?

These questions can help guide your organization through its transformation journey by setting realistic goals for both short-term wins and long-term gains.

Once you’ve defined what needs changing, it’s time for step two: defining how those changes will happen. This involves creating an action plan that includes timelines for each phase of implementation as well as resources required for each stage (e.g., time from IT staff).

Some companies may choose to tackle multiple projects simultaneously; others might choose only one area at a time depending on their resources available in terms of money/manpower/etcetera).

EAC Assessments help companies answer all those questions and how to get where they want to be.

Adapting and Adjusting the Plan

As you progress through your digital transformation, there will be changes in the market that you need to respond to.

If a competitor introduces a new product or service, or if something happens in the industry at large, it may change how you approach your own strategy.

You might also find that your goals and objectives have changed since they were first set out; perhaps there’s been an increase in customer demand for something specific that wasn’t previously considered important enough for inclusion on the list.

The best way to handle these situations is by reviewing them regularly with other members of your team – and making sure everyone has input into decisions about how best to adjust course as needed.

Conclusion

Digital transformation is a powerful tool that can help you achieve your business goals. It’s important to remember that digital transformation is not just about implementing new technologies, but also about changing how you work and think as an organization.

Digital transformation requires commitment from everyone involved in the process – from the C-suite down through every level of your organization.

To be successful, it must be an ongoing effort rather than a one-time project or initiative. You will need to continuously innovate and improve what you’re doing if you want to stay ahead of competitors who are also pursuing digital transformation strategies.

In conclusion, digital transformation is becoming increasingly essential for companies to stay competitive and meet the needs of their customers in the digital age. However, the process of digital transformation can be complex and challenging, which is why EAC assessments can be extremely helpful.

By conducting an assessment of your organization’s current digital capabilities and identifying areas for improvement, you can develop a roadmap for digital transformation that is tailored to your specific needs and goals.

EAC assessments can help you identify gaps in your digital capabilities, streamline your processes, and develop new products and services that better meet the needs of your customers. By embracing digital transformation and leveraging the expertise of EAC assessors, you can position your company for success in the digital age.