Get Savvy about PLM

Today too many companies are struggling to manage information and the software vendors are not helping with their promises of miracle solutions and having “the answer” when the question has not been formulated. 

PLM Savvy is intended to generate thought provoking dialog about managing product information, the business practices and the business systems involved.  The goal here is to get to the crux of what businesses are struggling with and to help executive management get past the vendor hype of PLM.

About the Author

Laila Hirr is Director and SME of PLM Services at Satyam Computer Services. Her responsibilities include helping clients to identify the most appropriate solutions to address existing business needs and problems as well as providing analytic and executive consulting services to our PLM customers.

Laila has worked with dozens of large and mid-sized manufacturing companies on developing their PLM requirements, establishing the business case for their executive management, and providing program management for PLM deployments. From her work with PCB (printed circuit board) and semi-conductor equipment manufacturers she is intimately familiar with the specialized needs of the high-tech/electronics industry and appliacble regulatory requirements, especially WEEE and RoHS. In addition, Laila is counted among the top 30 global specialists for UGS’ Ideas to NX and TDM to Teamcenter migrations.

Laila joined Metafore from Axian, Inc in Portland, Oregon, where she ran the PLM practice for several years prior to transferring it to Metafore.

Prior to Axian, she worked as an Engineering Systems Manager at ESI, a semiconductor equipment manufacturer, where she managed the company’s multi-site CAD and PLM environments. She introduced ESI’s PLM system Agile in 1997, which is still in use today. She took the company from 7 unique CAD applications to a single CAD environment permitting ESI to reduce development cycle times by 50% while leveraging concurrent product development across 5 geographic locations. Her work resulted in ESI being awarded a Design Excellence Award by Machine Design magazine.

Laila frequently serves as a judge for ORTOP (Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program) and the state level Lego Robotics tournaments supported by ORTOP that are geared towards encouraging middle school youth towards technology and science programs.

Laila has a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from Portland State University, where she was later named as a Distinguished Engineering Alumni for her contributions to the industry, community and university. Her Bachelors degree is also in Mechanical Engineering, from San Diego State University.

Copyright 2006, LR Hirr, All Rights Reserved