Week 1 · PLM basics
Hello PLM: why this blog exists and what PLM means in 2026
Why this blog exists
I have worked in PLM for 14 years. I started as a Teamcenter developer, ran implementations in aerospace and automotive, and today I lead teams on large Siemens projects. Over all these years one thing stood out: there is almost no short, practical writing on PLM that comes from the field.
And the industry is moving faster than ever. AI is really arriving in PLM, and big acquisitions and transformation programmes follow one another. I take notes while following all this; this blog is those notes in order.
The format is simple: one PLM concept every Saturday at 09:30. I explain the topic in plain words, add the week's genuinely important news with sources, and put my own view from the field on top. No long news lists, no marketing language.
The blog is for engineers, solution architects, project managers and anyone new to PLM. Posts appear in Turkish, English and German. If you disagree with something, write to me on LinkedIn or through the contact page; the best discussions start there.
Let's start with the first topic.
For years I have opened every PLM explanation with the same sentence: PLM is not a piece of software, it is a way of working that manages product data from the day it is born to the day it is retired. Two pieces of news in October 2026 showed that this is no longer just a consultant's slogan.
Mercedes-Benz: a Digital Thread with PLM.AI
On 16 October, Mercedes-Benz announced PLM.AI, a global programme covering all of its vehicle programmes. CONTACT Software provides the PLM core on CONTACT Elements. Siemens extends its long partnership in design, simulation and digital validation. Mercedes speaks of an investment of around half a billion euros and aims to cut development time by up to 30 percent. What caught my eye most: Mercedes defines the data models, architecture and governance itself, and keeps ownership of its data and of the AI models built on it.
In my view, Mercedes is preparing for AI. Rather than settling for the models vendors offer, it wants to blend an LLM that carries its own know-how with its product data. That makes a lot of sense. What is really interesting is that it does this with a much smaller company like CONTACT.
Schneider Electric and PTC: the biggest PLM move of the year
On 5 October, Schneider Electric agreed to acquire PTC for 205 dollars per share in cash, an equity value of about 22.6 billion dollars. Closing is expected by the third quarter of 2027, subject to approvals. Schneider already owns AVEVA; with Windchill and Creo it wants to bring engineering data together with plant and operations data.
I see the sale of PTC as a move that reshapes the industry. But for a company this large, changing direction is hard and laborious. Time will tell how productive this acquisition turns out to be.
So what is PLM not?
- It is not just a CAD vault. Both stories are about a continuous flow of data from engineering to manufacturing and service.
- It is not just an IT project. At Mercedes, governance and data ownership sit with the business.
- It is not one vendor's product. Even the biggest players work with several partners.
PLM in numbers
According to CIMdata's report from June 2026, the PLM market reached 88.3 billion dollars in 2025, up 9.9 percent on the previous year. With AI on every agenda, it would be no surprise if that growth sped up.
Next week: EBOM and MBOM. Why are the engineering and the manufacturing product structure still the topic people argue about most?