White Papers
An Integration Maturity Model for the Digital Enterprise
Saeed Paydarfar, Ph.D
Fall 2001
Abstract
"We'’ve invested in hardware systems, software systems and we've told the staff to use them. So, where is the return on investment?" Ironically, even though the proliferation of advanced technology has improved efficiency and accuracy within the many disciplines of the product development process, it has also created the new problems of minimized cross discipline integration and maximized information-over-load. Arguably, one of today’s greatest engineering challenges is the effective integrated deployment of computer and computerrelated technologies to actually achieve enterprise-wide process improvements. Typical deployments of process re-engineering and integration solutions seem to elude industry's efforts, leaving most well-intentioned leaders with only a fraction of the anticipated cost, schedule, and quality improvements and their CEO asking, "Where is the ROI?"
Introduction
Paradoxically, the introduction of computers and computer-related products, has definitely and significantly contributed to the improved capabilities of specific industry disciplines but, typically, the deployment of these products have failed to provide programs with enterprise wide cost, schedule and quality improvements. Indeed, computer technology has enabled significant capability within disciplines such as mechanical and electrical design, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), finite element analysis (FEA), machining, sheet metal forming, product visualization, process simulation, and manufacturing resource planning (MRP) just to mention a few. However, the added programmatic cost associated with the lack of robust integration of these disciplines has often minimized the sum of their individual benefits.
For years, industry has initiated re-engineering and integration efforts. To the inexperienced, the effort seems straightforward: map the "as-is" process, define a "to-be" process, and implement. Marred in technical, cultural, and logistical issues, most of these efforts fail and of the successful ones only a few can claim more than just marginal implementation success.
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