Implementation framework for PLM: a case study in the fashion industry

The implementation of a PLM is a great process of change, representing a critical phase due to the inertia that characterizes some organizations. This evidence especially occurs in industry new to PLM, such as the fashion one, where a lack of clear guidelines for implementation significantly increases the risk of failure of that process. In addition, an adequate project management approach that actively includes final users during the whole process will avoid the mismatch between outcomes and requirements. To support an efficient and effective introduction of PLM, it is then important to define a structured implementation method that involves all interested users from the early stages. A literature review has been conducted as preliminary step to investigate if bottom-up approaches to PLM implementation in fashion industry have already been studied. Based on the evidences from literature review, a framework was therefore defined, detailing the step-by-step procedure to follow for effectively implement a PLM considering the peculiarities of the fashion industry. To give evidence of the applicability of the proposed framework, it has been successfully used during the implementation process of a PLM software in a real context. The Italian company involved in the case study, Graziella, belongs to the gold-working district of Arezzo, in Tuscany, and has been working for more than 60 years in the gold jewellery sector.