PLM Innovation Matrix for a Complex Product Development Process POPA I. Luminiţa 1, a and POPA N. Vasile 2,b 1 ”Transilvania” University of Brasov ,Department of Automation and Information Technologies,Mihai Viteazul street no.5, Braşov, România 2 Manchester Metropolitan University, UK a mluminita2001@yahoo.com, b vasilepopa2001@yahoo.com, Keywords: PLM, innovation matrix, innovation activities, model stages. Abstract. PLM is a transformation strategy built on shared access to a single knowledge base, data and processes related to our products. This strategy allows us to grow and to control the rate of change of products or degree of innovation. The purpose of this paper is to find out the importance of innovative processes on Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) integration strategies with the objective to help companies to answer to the main market needs. In the case study we propose to analyze the innovation potential influence over electro-mechanic manufacturing process considering its specific tools. To exemplify our researches we approached the PLM as a multi-dimensional topic and we intent to explore the innovation complex metrics dimensions and help the reader gain a broad perspective of PLM in the Romanian industry. By using this approach, we can score, weight and prioritize customer assessment for different stages of product development process and to take in consideration the most likely changes that will improve the process. There are identified and assessed five innovation complex metrics used in PLM process stages within a complex Product Development Process. Also, based on this metrics, we create and analyze "PLM innovation matrix" and a traditional representation of "Iceberg Costs". Introduction Innovativeness can be perceived as the ability to introduce new products rapidly, or to rapidly make new design changes to existing products. Superior methods for developing, manufacturing and introducing new products can be a key to market dominance. Each of the other performance objectives (cost, quality, delivery time, delivery precision, and flexibility) also has potential benefits for market competitiveness. By our opinion there are 3 levels of innovation systems: 1. The company innovate any level through internal resources dedicated to it: research - development, acquisitions of new technology, technical staff, marketing and export; 2. The local business environment: external resources that improve its capacity for innovation: networks of companies, university research centers, organizations and government laboratories, finance companies, and so on; 3. The global business environment where are found the elements a which radically change company capacity for innovation: legislative and regulatory framework, based on scientific research, education system, scientific and technical culture, etc. Complex Product Development Innovation Processes Operations processes are groups of activities that add value to input-resources such as materials and information. A process can encompass the activities involved in a single production stage such as part production, or all activities in the total value chain that are involved in providing value to customers - the process scope is a matter of perspective. At the value chain level, the operations strategy should address the integration of processes (such as order management, planning, warehousing, transport etc) across enterprise boarders. The objective is to design processes in order to reduce resource consumption and improve performance. Similarly, in-house processes should be addressed in order to improve the way manufacturing and office operations are carried out within and across departmental boarders. Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 371 (2013) pp 862-866 © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.371.862 All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP, www.ttp.net. (ID: 79.116.217.147-26/06/13,18:11:01)