PLM (Product Lifecycle Management)
What Is Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)?
A Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system is a centralized platform that helps retail and fashion brands manage everything that happens before a product reaches the market—concepting, design, development, sourcing, sampling, and approvals.
It ensures every team involved in product creation works from the same, up-to-date information.
In essence, a PLM becomes your single source of truth for all product development data such as design files, material details, size specs, BOMs, costings, and tech packs so teams stay aligned from the first sketch to the final sample.
Why PLM Matters for Brands
For brands producing multiple seasons, categories, and styles, managing product development manually often leads to delays, miscommunication, and costly errors.
A modern PLM removes that friction, enabling teams to move from concept to production faster.
Key benefits:
End-to-end visibility: Track every stage of product creation in one place.
Operational efficiency: Reduce back-and-forth with vendors through centralized specs and approvals.
Accuracy at scale: Maintain clear version control for design files, measurements, and BOMs.
Examples of PLM in Action
Imagine a fashion brand developing a new seasonal collection.
With PLM, they can:
Store all design inspiration, sketches, and fabric swatches centrally.
Manage samples, fit comments, and size spec updates in real time.
Generate complete tech packs automatically as details evolve.
Collaborate with manufacturers and vendors seamlessly, reducing turnaround times.
How PLM Fits into the Ecosystem
A PLM often integrates with:
PIM (Product Information Management): To sync final specs and product details for e-commerce readiness.
Tech Pack Tools: To streamline communication with factories and vendors.
Design Research Platforms (like Artifax): To bring trend research into the early development stages.
Together, these systems form a unified workflow that connects inspiration, design, development, and product launch.
Related Terms
PIM (Product Information Management)
Tech Pack
Design Research
Product Development
