Projects – Your central hub for
Product Lifecycle Data

In Bluestar PLM, projects aren’t just a feature; they are the fundamental organizational unit
for managing and structuring your entire product data landscape.

Without projects, the complexity of product lifecycle data would be overwhelming. Instead, Bluestar PLM Projects provide the essential framework for structured, collaborative, and controlled management of all your product and project information. They bring order to chaos, ensuring that every piece of data, from initial concept to final release, is precisely where it needs to be, accessible and managed effectively throughout its entire lifecycle.

The true power of Bluestar PLM lies in its ability to manage and refine your pre-production processes and their associated documentation before anything even hits the manufacturing floor. When a project is ready, this entire, meticulously organized project hierarchy structure can be seamlessly released into Dynamics 365.

This means that Dynamics 365 users gain immediate and direct access to a comprehensive archive of all technical design documents, from detailed engineering specifications and CAD models to material lists and revision histories, ensuring a smooth and accurate transition from design to manufacturing and beyond.

Project View in Bluestar PLM

Comprehensive project hierarchy with all related objects in one place.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Integration

Seamless project synchronization between PLM and ERP systems.

Folder Structure Organization

Organize product data with flexible folder hierarchies.

Why projects are powerful

Projects bring order to chaos, ensuring every piece of data is precisely where it needs to be, accessible and managed throughout its lifecycle.

Efficient Data Management

A single object, like a specific document or drawing, can be included in multiple projects without creating redundant copies of its underlying data. This ensures data consistency and prevents redundancy.

Streamlined Workflows

Projects are designed to facilitate your processes. You can apply workflows directly to an entire project, ensuring that tasks, approvals, and releases are managed comprehensively for all included objects.

Flawless compatibility with Dynamics 365

Project data can be shared with Dynamics 365 projects continuously from project initiation to final closure. This bridges the gap between engineering and ERP, ensuring that manufacturing, finance, and supply chain operations are working with the latest, approved product data.

Logical Data Separation

Projects allow you to organize and logically separate your data based on its use. This means you can create distinct projects for different product lines, development phases, or customer-specific initiatives, providing clarity and control over your product information.

Folders in Bluestar PLM

Folders are essential for organizing and structuring product data, especially throughout the crucial phases of prototyping and new product development. Think of them as your digital filing cabinets, allowing you to logically group all the information related to your innovative ideas.

You have complete control over a folder’s contents. You can add, replace, or delete links to associated objects as needed. This flexibility is vital during development cycles, letting you quickly adapt to your organization as designs evolve, prototypes are tested, and new iterations emerge.

Folders make it simple to logically group all this dynamic data for easy access by individual users or entire teams. Whether it’s designed specifications for a new component, test results from a prototype, or documentation for a revised assembly, folders help you navigate and manage your information with ease.

Other folders

Create nested folder structures to categorize information.

Obejcts

Individual files or documents associated with your product.

Items

Specific components or parts of your product.

Classifications

Categorize and add descriptive attributes to your data.

Change Management for prototypes and product development

Running an engineering change on a project structure within Bluestar PLM is particularly beneficial for prototypes and new product development. These early stages are characterized by constant iteration, learning, and refinement, making a structured approach to change management crucial, and this is where the power of workflows comes into play.

Workflows guide and automate the entire change process, ensuring every step, from initial request to final approval and implementation, is followed consistently and efficiently. This helps teams navigate the complexities of design evolution, ensuring that all necessary reviews and approvals are secured before changes are formally incorporated.

Controlled Iteration and Experimentation

  • Minimize Risk in Prototyping
    Running changes within a project structure allows engineers to systematically capture and manage every modification, even seemingly small ones.

  • Rapid, Documented Evolution
    New product development is inherently iterative. A project structure facilitates rapid but controlled changes, allowing teams to quickly implement improvements based on test results, customer feedback, or new insights, all while maintaining a clear, auditable record.

Enhanced Collaboration and Communication

  • Single Source of Truth for Changes
    All stakeholders access the latest version of the product’s technical details and changes within the project. This eliminates confusion, reduces errors caused by outdated information, and ensures everyone is working from the same page.

  • Streamlined Review and Approval Workflows
    Engineering changes on a project structure can trigger automated workflows for review and approval. This ensures that all necessary parties sign off on changes before they are implemented, preventing bottlenecks and ensuring accountability, which is critical when developing new and unproven products.

Improved Traceability and Auditability

  • Complete Change History
    Every engineering change made within the project is fully documented, including who made it, when, why, and what was affected. This provides a complete audit trail, invaluable for compliance, intellectual property protection, and future troubleshooting.

Key Benefits

Transform the often-chaotic process of product development into a controlled, collaborative, and highly efficient journey.

Structured Data Management

Projects provide the essential framework for structured and controlled management of all product information, making sure every piece of data is exactly where it needs to be.

Enhanced Collaboration

By centralizing data and applying workflows, projects foster a collaborative environment where teams work with the same accurate, up-to-date information.

Streamlined Processes

The ability to apply workflows to entire projects streamlines tasks, approvals, and releases, improving the overall efficiency and saving time.

Accurate Transition to Production

Flawless compatibility with Microsoft Dynamics 365 ensures manufacturing, finance, and supply chain have immediate access to technical documents.

Data Consistency and Integrity

Preventing redundant data copies across multiple projects ensures high data consistency and integrity throughout the entire product lifecycle.

Improved Clarity and Control

Logical data separation by project use provides clear organization and enhanced control over product information, reducing confusion and errors.

Key Features

Everything you need to manage your product lifecycle from concept to manufacturing.

Centralized Data Hub

Projects serve as the single, unified repository for all product-related objects, bringing order to the complexity of data.

Pre-Production Management

Projects concentrate on managing and refining all pre-production processes and their associated documentation.

Data Sharing with D365

The entire organized project hierarchy can be released into Microsoft Dynamics 365 ensuring smooth handover.

Efficient Data Handling

A single object can be included in multiple projects without creating redundant copies of its underlying data.

Workflow Application

Workflows can be applied directly to an entire project, guiding tasks, approvals, and releases for all objects.

Logical Data Separation

Projects enable organization and logical separation of data for different product lines, phases, or customer initiatives.

Your entire Product Lifecycle. One system. Zero silos.

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