Uthayan Elangovan

Helping manufacturers get PLM, IIoT & ERP right — without vendor bias | Author of 5 books (Taylor & Francis Award) | 22+ yrs | Founder @NeelSMARTEC

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

A new chapter in my PLM journey.
My new book, Handbook of Product Lifecycle Management, is now published by @CRC_Engineering | @tandfnewsroom
20+ years of PLM experience, learning, and practice brought together in one handbook.
https://t.co/U47U4fhuUo
#PLM #book #Industry5.0

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

AI in PLM: before adding intelligence, look at where teams are still correcting data, chasing information and working around existing systems.
That’s where many practical improvement opportunities begin.
https://t.co/NlctfofFRj
#PLM #AI #Manufacturing

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

Before replacing a PLM system, look at how it is being used.
Are engineers following the processes? Is product data reliable? Does manufacturing get the information it needs?
A new system won't automatically fix old working practices.
#PLM #Manufacturing

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

It depends on what the business needs to manage better: engineering data, product development processes, or both. Read the customer success story, including the PLM process consulting approach and the roadmap developed.
https://t.co/E7e3Isx9jv
#PDM #PLM

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

BOMs in Excel. CAD for design. Design files on a shared server. As product complexity grows, revision control, design reuse, and approvals become harder to manage.
PDM or PLM?

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

A key learning: having systems in place doesn't mean the business works as one.
https://t.co/elsal7MHsi
#PLM #ERP #Manufacturing

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

An ETO manufacturer had Teamcenter, SAP ERP, Mechanical & Electrical CAD and COMOS.
We investigated the end-to-end business, not just the systems, and developed a Future Business Operating Model.
#PLM #ERP #Manufacturing

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

Some manufacturing decisions remain in place long after the circumstances behind them have changed.
Product structures, engineering workflows, and system configurations need periodic review.
#PLM #Industry50 #DigitalTransformation

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

For those interested in the journey behind these perspectives, I've shared how my professional journey evolved from CPC to PDM to PLM, from 2001 to 2026.
My PLM Journey: From CPC to PDM to PLM from 2001 to 2026
https://t.co/0ryP94bwvE
#PLM #PDM #Industry50

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

Five books, shaped by industry practice across PLM, IIoT, digital transformation, and Industry 5.0.
The real challenge is making engineering, manufacturing processes, and people work together to create business value.
That's where the real transformation begins.
#PLM #Industry50

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

Manufacturing challenges rarely sit within a single technology. PLM, IIoT, AI, and people need to work together. The real discussion is how these connections improve engineering and business performance.
#PLM #AI #IIoT #Industry50

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

PLM connects product knowledge. IIoT brings operational insight. Industry 5.0 puts people, resilience, and sustainability at the centre.
But are we solving the right manufacturing problem?
Sometimes, transformation begins with a better question.
#PLM #IIoT #Industry50

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

More product variants mean more than just additional BOMs. Customer options, approved components, and manufacturing definitions must remain aligned.
Can your organization confidently identify exactly what is being built and against which approved definition?
#PLM #Manufacturing

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

Technology discussions need more than predictions. They need perspectives grounded in industrial experience.
PLM, IIoT, AI, and Industry 5.0 offer important opportunities. Understanding their implications for engineering and business is where meaningful conversations begin.

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

Investing in PLM, ERP, automation, and AI doesn't guarantee transformation. What's vital is whether people work differently, decisions improve, and operational practices change. Transformation remains a leadership responsibility.
#PLM #ERP #AI #Industry50

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

A digital thread is only as strong as the decisions it connects. When engineering changes, product data and manufacturing information don't move together, leaving digital transformation incomplete. Identify the disconnect before choosing the solution.
#PLM #Digitalthread

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

An engineering BOM is not automatically ready for manufacturing. Connecting engineering structures, revisions, processes, and materials is where PLM–ERP alignment is vital.
How well is this handled in your organization?
#PLM #ERP

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

At Business Beyond Boundaries 2026, I had the opportunity to deliver the inaugural address on Reimagining Business in the Age of AI and participate in the panel discussion, From Shop Floor to Cloud.
https://t.co/qSPyo0vUAv
#Industry50

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

My 22-plus-year journey across PLM, IIoT, and digital transformation has shaped five books and many conversations with industry and academia.
From the PLM Handbook to Industry 5.0, my focus remains on connecting technology with industrial practice.
#PLM #IIoT #Industry50

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

An important opportunity to bring Industry 5.0 discussions into an engineering and scientific environment.
My invited expert session at LEOS–ISRO's Zero Defect Program:
https://t.co/oI7XgQEDEf
#Industry50

[Uthayan Elangovan @neuthayan]

Before approving another PLM investment, understand what your teams actually use, where processes remain disconnected, and what business value PLM delivers.
Neel SMARTEC offers independent PLM advisory.