How PLM is evolving to meet the complexity of automotive ...

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PLM development Sponsored How PLM is evolving to meet the complexity of automotive manufacturing operations Automotive Manufacturing Solutions Automotive Manufacturing Solutions Published 27 October 2026 - 14:11 5 min For commercial vehicle makers PLM is especially critical Siemens As vehicles become software-defined and manufacturing grows more modular, PLM is shifting from a mechanical-focused repository to a connected lifecycle backbone that links engineering, manufacturing, service and operational data to support the comprehensive Digital Twin PARTNER CONTENT This article was produced by AMS in partnership with Siemens Digital Industries At a glance • PLM is evolving from a mechanical engineering repository into a connected lifecycle platform managing software, electronics and mechanical parts, ensuring compatibility and safe over-the-air updates for software-defined vehicles. • Connecting PLM, ERP and MES data across engineering, manufacturing and service speeds change management and reduces costly rework, according to Siemens' Andreas Eek. • Commercial vehicle makers rely on modular bills of materials and configuration rules so every customer-specified vehicle is producible, while a "vehicle DNA" digital twin tracks lifetime changes. • AI grounded in trusted lifecycle data helps engineers find information faster, while integrating simulation outputs into PLM shows how designs perform across production, service and operation. Product lifecycle management (PLM) has long been the backbone of engineering data and design workflows in the automotive industry. But the last decade has seen radical shifts in what PLM must manage: rising software content, electrification, modular platforms and new business models focused on uptime and serviceability. Speaking to AMS, Andreas Eek, Account Executive at Siemens Digital Industries Software , laid out how PLM is changing from a siloed engineering tool into a connected lifecycle platform that enables faster change management, richer simulations and a trusted digital record of what each vehicle actually is. PLM’s broadened scope: software, electronics and context Historically, PLM was dominated by mechanical data. As Eek observes, “If you go back more than 10 years ago, software was never discussed from a PLM perspective. It was purely mechanical discussions.” The transition to software-defined vehicles means that PLM must now manage not only mechanical and mechatronic components but also software modules and electronics – and their compatibility. When a customer configures a vehicle, you need to make sure it's actually producible… that needs to be built up on a foundation from a PLM system based on modularisation of the product together with highly integrated configuration rules Andreas Eek – Siemens Digital Industries Andreas Eek, Account Executive at Siemens Digital Industries Software Eek sums up the implication: “They need to have the software part of the PLM system and be able to manage the compatibility between mechanical parts, mechatronic parts, and software parts as a group of components to build a complete vehicle.” This is vital not only for correct initial assembly but also for safe, reliable over‑the‑air (OTA) updates: “Once an update goes out, it has to work.” For commercial vehicle makers – a sector that traditionally emphasises modularity and long‑lived platforms – PLM is especially critical. Eek explains that commercial OEMs must ensure that every customer configuration is viable: “When a customer configures a vehicle, you need to make sure it's actually producible… that needs to be built up on a foundation from a PLM system based on modularisation of the product together with highly integrated configuration rules.” Moving to a connected, contextualised lifecycle data Many established manufacturers evolved complex IT landscapes made up of many specialised systems. Eek describes the current trend away from that fragmentation. New approaches target a small set of core systems – typically PLM, ERP and MES – while placing emphasis on connecting and contextualising data across the lifecycle, rather than merely centralising it. “You need to put much more data into one common system where you have both engineering, manufacturing [and] service people so that the manufacturing people can see the engineering data much earlier,” Eek says. The goal is faster, clearer change management and fewer costly re‑works. In his words: “When they make changes, they can get a much better understanding to perform those changes without having to re-loop them once you get feedback.” We see a lot of concepts in the commercial vehicles requirements that we don't see in automotive, for example, to really ensure that all the modules that they produce can be used in a vast amount of vehicle configurations Andreas Eek – Siemens Digital Industries Configuration management and the commercial vehicle challenge Commercial vehicle OEMs face unique configuration pressures. Unlike high‑volume passenger cars, many commercial OEMs develop platform families and then run continuous changes on those platforms for a decade or more. This forces PLM to support highly flexible modular architectures while ensuring manufacturability and functional compatibility across many variants. Eek highlights the trade‑offs OEMs face: some choose maximal flexibility; others limit options to optimise production. “If you have a limited flexibility, you might be able to optimise the production aspects and maybe have a larger volume of specific vehicles,” he says. But for OEMs that must support diverse customer applications, sophisticated configuration rules and modular bill of materials (BOMs) are a must. Eek says: “We see a lot of concepts in the commercial vehicles requirements that we don't see in automotive, for example, to really ensure that all the modules that they produce can be used in a vast amount of vehicle configurations.” Sponsored Smart energy and data solutions power shift to green auto manufacturing As sustainability has become a priority for global automotive manufacturing, OEMs and suppliers are adopting digital energy management systems to track, reduce and optimise energy consumption and carbon emissions across plants and supply chains. Siemens is helping to lead this transformation, enabling measurable reductions in CO₂ and operational gains, especially in paintshops and bodyshops.