PLM consultant: Skills, missions and training

What is a PLM Consultant?

The role of a PLM Consultant, or Product Lifecycle Management Consultant, is to provide expertise in optimizing product development processes within a company. He acts as a strategic advisor to integrate and effectively operate PLM tools, thus meeting the specific needs of each customer.

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Role of the PLM Consultant in Your Business

The missions of a PLM consultant encompass several crucial aspects of product development, offering significant benefits for businesses that choose to integrate them into their team.

PLM Tool Study and Management

The PLM consultant actively contributes to the pre-sales phases by defining solutions, estimating projects and carrying out demonstrations. He translates the client's business processes into the PLM tool, builds solutions in collaboration with development teams, and participates in the definition of functional architectures and technical specifications.

Needs analysis

A thorough analysis of customer needs is the starting point. The PLM consultant collects, identifies, and analyzes these needs, understanding the context and goals of the mission. This step makes it possible to define a personalized approach in accordance with the specific expectations of the company.

Test phase

The PLM consultant plays a key role in the testing phase by defining acceptance, compliance and performance test plans and scenarios. It tests solutions, qualifies software developments and processes incidents reported by users, thus ensuring the quality and reliability of the solutions implemented.

Project Management

Project management is a major skill for a PLM consultant. He coordinates the projects with the various stakeholders, defines and follows the project plan in collaboration with the project manager, and reports any alerts. This coordination ensures effective and efficient implementation of solutions.

Formation

In support of deployment, the PLM consultant trains users in PLM tools, guaranteeing a smooth transition to new solutions and maximizing adoption by teams.

The Necessary Skills

A lot of skills are needed to shine in this job. Here is a breakdown of the skills required:

Control of one or more operating systems

The PLM consultant must be able to work effectively on different operating systems such as Windows or Unix. This competence ensures the flexibility necessary to adapt to the varied infrastructures of customers.

Knowledge of several programming languages

A thorough understanding of various programming languages is essential. This includes languages such as Java, C, C ++, C ++, SQL, C#. This versatility will allow the PLM consultant to adapt to different development and integration requirements.

Knowledge of database management systems

Understanding database management systems, such as Oracle, is required. This allows the consultant to effectively manipulate data related to the product life cycle, ensuring optimal information management.

Mastery of CAD software (2D or 3D)

Mastery of Computer-aided Design (CAD) software is essential. Tools such as Catia, Solidworks, or 3D Experience are commonly used in the product development process. The PLM consultant must be able to work with these various tools to integrate design data into the PLM system.

Proficiency in at least one PLM software

A consultant should have extensive expertise and be proficient in at least one major PLM software. This may include Windchill, Enovia, Teamcenter/Solid Edge.

Mastery of ETL tools (Extract Transform Load)

Knowledge of ETL tools, such as Talend, is crucial to ensure data integrity and consistency between different applications within the system.

Knowledge of one or more project management methods

The PLM consultant should have a thorough knowledge of project management methods. This may include agile methods, the V-cycle, etc.

The Soft Skills You Need

In addition to technical skills, the PLM consultant must have essential soft skills to ensure effective collaboration and the success of projects.

Autonomy: The PLM consultant must demonstrate the ability to work independently, ensuring initiative and autonomous management of assigned tasks.
Rigor: The strict application of methodologies and standards is essential to ensure quality and consistency in the execution of PLM projects.
Organization: Effective management of time and resources is crucial to ensure the efficient planning and execution of the various phases of the project.
Team spirit: Collaborating seamlessly with team members is fundamental to fostering a positive and productive work environment.
Sectoral curiosity and a taste for innovation: A keen interest in new developments and a thorough understanding of the sector are required to remain at the forefront of technological developments and best practices in the field of PLM.

Salary and Development Prospects

The salary of a PLM consultant is subject to significant variations depending on accumulated experience and the level of expertise achieved in the field.

Wages

Junior: Early career PLM consultants can expect a gross annual salary of around 40,000 euros. This level is suitable for professionals who are beginning to gain experience in the field.
Expert with advice: For PLM consultants who have reached a high level of expertise and are able to provide strategic advice, the gross annual salary can reach up to 80,000 euros. This level of remuneration reflects the experience and the added value they can bring to projects.

Daily Rate (TJM)

At the TJM level, daily rates vary according to the level of experience and expertise.

Junior: The daily rate for a junior PLM consultant is generally set at around 350 euros. This amount reflects the learning phase and the need for closer supervision.
Expert: Expert PLM consultants, with their experience and ability to provide top-level advice, can reach a daily rate of 750 euros. This amount is a testament to their strategic contribution to projects and their ability to solve complex challenges. In addition to this, an external consultant can bring you greater experience and allows you to be more reactive, out of habit of changing missions.

Evolution Perspectives

The career prospects for a PLM consultant are diverse and offer opportunities for a rewarding career.

They can in fact become engineer in computer research and development. With the accumulation of experience and in-depth expertise, many PLM consultants are evolving into engineering roles in IT design and development. This allows them to broaden their field of action and to contribute actively to the development of technological solutions.

Some are turning to the post of Project Management Officer. This role extends their responsibility by overseeing all aspects of a project, from planning to completion, thus strengthening their influence in the management of strategic projects.

Trainings and Prerequisites

The path to becoming a PLM consultant includes a solid academic background and specialized certifications.

Ideal candidates have a bachelor's degree from bac+3 to bac+5 from business schools, computer schools, engineering schools, or project management schools.

Certifications in the fields of PLM, such as those offered by Dassault Systèmes or PTC, are major assets. Training may include courses on advanced PLM software features or industry recognized certification programs.