Better by design

摘要

On desktops and tables in offices and homes around the world, and on the laps of latte-sippers from Miami to Mumbai, you will find computers made by Dell, the world's biggest PC manufacturer. For a company that shifts tens of millions of boxes each year it is a mammoth task to keep track of all the different components that go into each of its various models, and to ensure that 400 suppliers around the world are kept informed of changes in design or specifications-even as similarly global teams of designers are continuously updating its product line to stay ahead of the competition. Like many other large firms, Dell uses clever software to handle all of these tasks. It is called product life-cycle management (PLM) software, and it is becoming integral to the operation, growth and profitability of many big companies.