I teach in the Oakland University course(s) ISE 5560 & SYS 5560 "Product Lifecycle Management". (I have no idea why there are two course numbers. 🤷) and for students and guests I created a pre-lecture which to give a sense on what we cover in the course.
Further below, are three interviews of myself by Jen Ferello and Jonathon Scott of the RazorLeaf Corporation, a PLM Services and consultancy firm. The first video provides a 20-minute overview of the course, while the following three are 30-40 minutes each and go into more detail. (See the comments.)
Mentioned in the first video is my "Ungrading" policy, which I discuss in-depth in my LinkedIn newsletter.
I met Jen and Jonathon of RazorLeaf, a PLM implementation firm, at a conference and they were nice enough to interview me for their podcast, and you can find those interviews below.
Throughout the interviews, I refer to the graduate engineering management course I teach, called "Managing Product Lifecycles". I discuss the distinction between "MPL" and "PLM" in the first two videos, below, and then the importance of managing PLM implementation teams through collective learning.
Episode 48: Managing the Product Lifecycle Beyond PLM
In this episode of Stay Sharp with Razorleaf, hosts Jen and Jonathan are joined by special guest Patrick Hillberg to dive deeper into managing a product's life cycle beyond traditional Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems. The conversation explores the gaps in PLM technology and the broader challenges of product management in today's complex, global economy.
Patrick Hillberg shares his insights on why managing the product life cycle requires more than just PLM technology. The discussion touches on critical topics such as supply chain disruptions, the importance of digital twins for factories, and the need to reimagine product development strategies in the face of systemic risks like climate change and pandemics.
Key Discussion Points:
PLM Technology vs. Product Lifecycle Management: The distinction between PLM as a business process and the technology that supports it, and why current PLM systems fall short in addressing all aspects of product management.
Supply Chain Challenges: How supply chain disruptions, exacerbated by events like the COVID-19 pandemic, reveal the limitations of existing PLM tools in managing product life cycles effectively.
The Role of Externalities: Exploring the impact of external factors—both positive and negative—on product development and lifecycle management, including the implications of climate change and geopolitical conflicts.
The Future of Manufacturing: The potential of digital twins and remote manufacturing to address global challenges, and the vision for more localized production to reduce risks associated with complex global supply chains.
Innovation and Simplicity: The importance of finding less complex, more efficient methods to achieve business goals, including the role of additive manufacturing and the need to rethink traditional approaches to product development.
Episode 50: Managing the Product Lifecycle Beyond PLM Part 2
In this episode of Stay Sharp with Razorleaf, we continue our deep dive into managing the product lifecycle beyond traditional PLM systems. Hosts Jen Ferello and Jonathan Scott are joined by Patrick Hillberg to explore the complexities of product lifecycle management, focusing on how it stretches far beyond the capabilities of PLM technology. Together, they investigate the broader implications of product development, organizational dysfunction, and the ethical pressures engineers face in today’s evolving manufacturing landscape.
Episode Summary: This episode examines how PLM technology, while useful, only addresses a small part of the product lifecycle. Patrick Hillberg highlights the importance of viewing "Managing Product Lifecycles" as more than technology and involves decision-making that PLM systems can’t facilitate. The conversation dives into real-world examples of product development failures, such as the GM ignition switch and Boeing 737 Max incidents, showcasing the consequences of poor communication and organizational silos. Ethical concerns in the development of autonomous vehicles also play a central role in this discussion.
Key Takeaways:
PLM Systems’ Limitations: While PLM technology assists with certain aspects of product development, it doesn’t address the larger management of a product’s full lifecycle.
Decomposition Creates Dysfunction: Decomposing complex products into smaller parts leads to organizational silos, making it harder to manage the full lifecycle and increasing the risk of dysfunction.
Engineers are under growing ethical pressures to balance safety with financial objectives, particularly in the development of autonomous vehicles.
Digital Exhaust as a Tool: Tracking digital exhaust (communication patterns within teams) could provide insight into organizational dysfunction before it leads to significant product failures.
Discussion Highlights:
The distinction between PLM technology and managing product life cycles.
How decomposition of products into smaller teams can create communication breakdowns.
Case studies like the GM ignition switch recall and Boeing 737 Max crashes, where poor communication and ethical lapses led to catastrophic product failures.
The role of technology in spotting dysfunction before it escalates into a crisis.
The importance of considering societal value and sustainability when developing products.
Episode 58: Collective Learning for Project Teams
In this insightful episode of Stay Sharp with Razorleaf, hosts Jonathan and Jen welcome back Dr. Patrick Hilberg, professor at Oakland University, for an engaging discussion on the power of collective learning in project teams. Drawing on his extensive experience with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) projects and his academic background, Dr. Hilberg shares his perspective on why fostering a learning environment within project teams is essential. They explore the value of agile and lean principles, the differences between waterfall and agile methodologies, and how creating space for team learning can transform project outcomes.
Key Topics Covered:
What is Collective Learning?
Dr. Hilberg explains collective learning as a process where team members share insights and work together to deepen understanding and improve decision-making. This approach allows individuals to go beyond personal expertise and leverage the group’s collective knowledge, enhancing project outcomes.
Agile vs. Waterfall Methodologies
The discussion highlights the key differences between traditional waterfall and agile methodologies. Agile’s focus on iterative progress, adaptability, and regular feedback loops supports collective learning, whereas waterfall is a more rigid, sequential approach. Dr. Hilberg and the hosts emphasize how agile can foster a more collaborative, flexible team environment, which is ideal for complex PLM projects.
Implementing Lean Principles in Project Management
Lean principles encourage keeping requirements or “inventory” low to solve problems as they arise, reducing wasted effort. Dr. Hilberg shares how this approach, inspired by Toyota’s production system, enables teams to identify and resolve issues faster, promoting continuous learning and improvement.
Empowering Teams with Flexible Goals
By setting high-level goals without rigid requirements, Dr. Hilberg describes how teams can creatively approach problem-solving, with regular check-ins to adjust as needed. This flexibility helps teams maintain momentum, even when challenges arise, by focusing on progress rather than rigidly adhering to a predetermined plan.
Addressing Resistance to Change through Organizational Change Management (OCM)
The team discusses the role of OCM in managing resistance to new processes and tools within projects. Dr. Hilberg emphasizes the importance of creating a learning-oriented environment to help individuals overcome fear of change, especially when implementing agile methodologies in traditionally structured teams.
Learning as an Intrinsic Motivator
The episode underscores that people naturally enjoy learning, even though they may resist change. By fostering an environment where learning and collaboration are valued, teams are more likely to engage and embrace new approaches, leading to stronger project outcomes.
This episode is packed with actionable insights for project managers, team leaders, and educators who want to embrace a collective learning mindset. By blending agile methodologies, lean principles, and open communication, teams can navigate complex projects more effectively and stay aligned on their goals.
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