Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering

PLM Is Changing Fast: AI, Cloud & 3DEXPERIENCE Insights from ENOVIA 2026 What’s really happening with PLM, AI, and cloud adoption right now? In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott, with their Razorleaf colleagues, François Schlub and Andrew Halley, break down the biggest takeaways from the ENOVIA User Conference 2026, hosted by Dassault Systèmes in Boston. From AI-powered virtual twins to cloud migration strategies and digital thread integration, this conversation goes beyond the keynote hype to share what real users, engineers, and manufacturers are actually experiencing today. 👉 If you're working in product development, engineering, manufacturing, or PLM—this is what you need to know. 🔑 What You’ll Learn 🧠 Key Topics Covered 3DIf you found this helpful: Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

What happens when you take the digital twin concept beyond products and factories, and apply it to your entire business? In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with John Biagioni, President of Lampin Corporation and a leader with experience ranging from machinist to a billion-dollar company executive. John joins hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott to explore how a business-level digital twin can drive smarter, more resilient decisions across finance, operations, and customer relationships. From using value stream mapping as a foundational building block to integrating real-time IoT sensing for continuous calibration, John shares the practical steps any company, big or small, can take to build models that deliver true competitive advantage. Key Takeaways: Why You Need a Business Digital TwinBeyond SurvivabilityThe Power of IterationStakeholder TrustResilience Over Efficiency Thank you for joining us on Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering! If you enjoyed this conversation, please take a moment to like, share, and subscribe to our podcast. Got a question for John or the hosts? Send us a note at podcast@razorleaf.com or leave a comment on our post! Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

What happens when a company does everything you can do to a private jet - except build one from scratch? Aaron Lane has spent 25+ years at Duncan Aviation, navigating a PLM journey that went from literal paper boxes loaded onto departing aircraft, through a legacy ERP stretched beyond its limits, to SmarTeam, and finally to Aras Innovator. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on what that transformation actually looked like - the messy parts included. Whether you're greenfield, brownfield, or somewhere in between, this conversation is packed with hard-won, practical wisdom. Key Takeaways Guest Aaron Lane - PLM Lead, Duncan Aviation A 25+ year Duncan veteran who started as an assistant finish tech and has held roles spanning production planner, project manager, certification coordinator, and engineering team leader. Aaron has been the driving force behind Duncan's PLM evolution from SmarTeam to Aras Innovator. Resources & Links Mentioned duncanaviation.aeroAras InnovatorSmarTeamCATIACMMC Have a question for Aaron or want to connect with Duncan Aviation? Reach out via the podcast community. 👉 Send topic ideas or guest suggestions: podcast@razorleaf.com 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode ⭐ Leave a review - it helps more engineers find the show 💬 Drop a comment - the hosts actually read them Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering is the podcast about tools, trends, and tactics shaping digital transformation in product manufacturing. New episodes drop regularly. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Inside Solumina: The Digital Backbone for Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing What does it take to manage manufacturing where failure simply isn’t an option? In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott continue their digital product series with Sung Kim, CTO of iBase-t, for a deep dive into the Solumina platform—a manufacturing operations management system designed specifically for complex, highly regulated industries like aerospace and defense. Unlike traditional manufacturing systems that simply record what happened, Solumina is designed to actively guide production processes, enforce quality requirements, and maintain full traceability across the product lifecycle. Sung explains how the platform connects engineering intent to shop floor execution, integrating capabilities like MES, embedded quality management, supplier quality, MRO, and model-based manufacturing into a unified operational data model. The conversation explores the architecture behind the platform—from early two-tier systems to today’s cloud-native, microservices-based infrastructure—and how Solumina enables organizations to scale across global manufacturing sites while maintaining compliance, security, and operational continuity. If you’re curious about how modern manufacturing systems evolve from systems of record into systems that guide what happens next, this episode delivers a rare look under the hood. What You’ll Learn in This Episode MES alone isn’t enoughMES, quality management, MRO, and supplier qualityunified operational data modelPLM, ERP, and shop floor systemsmodel-based manufacturingcloud-native architecture and microservicesinstitutional knowledge as experienced workers retireKey Topics Discussed About the Guest: Sung Kim is the Chief Technology Officer at iBase-t, where he leads the company’s long-term technology vision and product architecture for the Lumina manufacturing operations platform. With more than 20 years of experience as a technology architect and computer scientist, Sung focuses on building scalable, secure systems for complex, highly regulated manufacturing environments. Before joining iBase-t, Sung worked in telecommunications and academia, teaching undergraduate and graduate students while publishing research in leading international journals and conferences, including ACM and IEEE. His work today centers on advancing modern, cloud-native manufacturing platforms that connect engineering, production, quality, and maintenance across the digital thread. 📩 Subscribe for more conversations on digital engineering and product innovation 💬 Share your experiences or questions in the comments Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

AI is everywhere right now—but in digital engineering and manufacturing, many leaders are still asking the same question: where does it actually help? In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott sit down with Dr. Diego Tamburini of CIMdata to separate hype from implementation reality. With decades of experience spanning Microsoft, Autodesk, and Siemens Digital Industries, Diego shares how organizations are applying AI today—not in theory, but inside real engineering and manufacturing environments. The discussion introduces five practical patterns of AI adoption, explains why many proof-of-concepts fail to scale, and explores emerging applications like AI-assisted workflows, predictive models, and natural-language interaction with engineering systems. Most importantly, the conversation reframes AI not as a technology trend, but as a decision framework leaders must apply carefully to solve the right problems. Key Takeaways 👤 Guest Information Dr. Diego Tamburini Executive Consultant, CIMdata Leads the company’s AI practice, helping industrial organizations apply AI to digital engineering and manufacturing transformation. Former Director of Engineering Agility at Microsoft, where he helped integrate AI into engineering workflows and marketplace platforms. Previously held leadership and strategy roles at Autodesk and Siemens Digital Industries Software, with more than 25 years of experience in CAD, CAM, CAE, and PLM innovation. 👉 Connect with Dr. Tamburini to learn more about practical AI adoption in industrial environments. If this episode helped clarify how AI fits into engineering and manufacturing: Stay Sharp in Digital EngineeringMusic is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, we break down the biggest themes and takeaways from 3DEXPERIENCE World (formerly SolidWorks World), held this year in Houston. The message was loud and clear: AI is here — and Dassault Systèmes is betting big on it. From the headline-making partnership with NVIDIA to live AI demos inside the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, the event showcased ambitious plans for AI-driven engineering workflows. But beyond the stage announcements, what are customers actually asking about? And what does this shift mean for data strategy, PLM adoption, and long-term system decisions? Juliann Grant discusses the highlights of the event with the attending Razorleaf team, Jonathan Scott, Francois Schlub, and Andrew Halley as they share what really stood out — including conversations happening off-stage. Key Themes from the Event AI Everywhere — But What Does It Really Mean? Dassault SystèmesNVIDIAData Is the Foundation 3DAdoption Still Matters More Than Hype 3DEducation & the Next Generation 3DThe Big Question: Is AI Replacing Engineers? A recurring theme throughout the conference: If AI compresses hours of work into minutes… what changes for engineering teams? We explore the tension between productivity gains and workforce impact — and what it may mean for the future of digital engineering. Guests in This Episode Juliann GrantJonathan ScottAndrew HalleyFrançois SchlubThe Event Takeaways AI dominated the headlines. But customers are still focused on: Getting PLM foundations rightManaging migration pathsStructuring and governing product dataEnsuring successful user adoptionThe shift is real — but the groundwork still matters. If you couldn’t make it to Houston, this recap gives you the highlights, insights, and honest takeaways from the floor. 👉 Have questions about 3DEXPERIENCE, AI strategy, or PLM adoption? Reach out to the team at Razorleaf. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Digital engineering gets a lot of attention. But what happens after the design is complete? In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, we sit down with Naveen Poonian, CEO of iBase-t, to explore why execution — not just engineering — is the real battleground of digital transformation in aerospace and defense. From Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) to Supplier Quality Management (SQM) and Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO), we unpack how digital tools connect engineering, production, service, and compliance into a true lifecycle ecosystem. We also explore: If you're navigating digital manufacturing, aerospace innovation, or operational transformation, this conversation delivers practical insight grounded in real-world execution. Key Takeaways Execution is the missing linkAerospace and defense demand precisionMES and MOM platforms must connect deeply with supply chainAI must solve real operational problemsDigital transformation requires partnershipThe future is model-based Guest - Naveen Poonian CEO, iBase-t Aerospace and defense technology leader focused on manufacturing execution, lifecycle transformation, and operational excellence. Resources & Mentions iBase-tiBase-t Excelerate ConferenceConnect With Us 📩 Have questions or topic ideas? Email: podcast@razorleaf.com 💬 Leave a comment — we read them all ⭐ Subscribe for future conversations on digital engineering and manufacturing If you found value in this episode, please share it with a colleague in aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

AI may dominate headlines, but the real transformation in product development is happening elsewhere—in how teams manage complexity across mechanics, electronics, and software without slowing time to market. In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott continue their conversation on Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) with Eran Reinshmidt and Safae El Abkari of Dassault Systèmes. This discussion moves beyond aerospace and defense to explore how MBSE is reshaping consumer product development—from small appliances and power tools to connected products and manufacturing systems. The conversation dives into virtual prototyping, multidisciplinary collaboration, faster trade studies, platform thinking, product line engineering, and why MBSE is becoming essential for consumer companies that need speed without chaos. 🔑 Key Takeaways 👤 Guest Information Eran Reinshmidt Solution Leader, Consumer Industries – Dassault Systèmes Over 20 years of experience spanning furniture, home goods, appliances, sporting goods, apparel, and connected products. Safae El Abkari PhD, Engineering Sciences Leads the Perfectly Connected Product solution at Dassault Systèmes, specializing in multidisciplinary product development and MBSE adoption. 👉 Follow both guests on LinkedIn for insights on MBSE and consumer product innovation. If this episode helped clarify how MBSE applies beyond aerospace: Stay Sharp in Digital EngineeringMusic is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

AI is everywhere right now—but in digital engineering and manufacturing, many leaders are still asking the same question: where does it actually help? In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott sit down with Dr. Diego Tamburini of CIMdata to separate hype from implementation reality. With decades of experience spanning Microsoft, Autodesk, and Siemens Digital Industries, Diego shares how organizations are applying AI today—not in theory, but inside real engineering and manufacturing environments. The discussion introduces five practical patterns of AI adoption, explains why many proof-of-concepts fail to scale, and explores emerging applications like AI-assisted workflows, predictive models, and natural-language interaction with engineering systems. Most importantly, the conversation reframes AI not as a technology trend, but as a decision framework leaders must apply carefully to solve the right problems. Key Takeaways 👤 Guest Information Dr. Diego Tamburini Executive Consultant, CIMdata Leads the company’s AI practice, helping industrial organizations apply AI to digital engineering and manufacturing transformation. Former Director of Engineering Agility at Microsoft, where he helped integrate AI into engineering workflows and marketplace platforms. Previously held leadership and strategy roles at Autodesk and Siemens Digital Industries Software, with more than 25 years of experience in CAD, CAM, CAE, and PLM innovation. 👉 Connect with Dr. Tamburini to learn more about practical AI adoption in industrial environments. Stay Sharp in Digital EngineeringMusic is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott continue the digital product series with a deep dive into mechanical variation management and tolerance analysis. Joined by James Stoddard, co-founder and research fellow at Sigmetrix, the conversation explores how tolerance analysis acts as a critical bridge between ideal CAD models and real-world manufactured parts. The discussion unpacks why variation can never be eliminated, how poor tolerance decisions quietly drive cost and quality issues, and why managing variation across the entire product lifecycle is essential for modern, model-based enterprises. Key Takeaways Guest: James Stoddard Co-Founder & Research Fellow, Sigmetrix James has spent over 25 years advancing tolerance analysis and mechanical variation management technologies, helping organizations improve quality while controlling cost. Resources Mentioned ● Mechanical Variation Management ● Tolerance Analysis ● Model-Based Definition (MBD) ● Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) ● Digital Thread & Model-Based Enterprise (MBE) If you found this episode valuable, subscribe to Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, leave a review, and share this episode with a colleague working in design, manufacturing, or quality. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Episode Summary How risky is it to buy engineering software from a company owned by private equity? Does SaaS actually reduce risk—or introduce new problems? And what should technology buyers really be evaluating in today’s rapidly consolidating digital engineering market? In this episode of Stay Sharp, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott sit down with industry analyst Monica Schnitger, President and Principal Analyst at Schnitger Corporation. With nearly two decades of experience advising software vendors, investors, and technology buyers, Monica offers a grounded, behind-the-scenes look at private equity, SaaS adoption, cloud realities, and how buyers can make smarter, lower-risk decisions. This conversation cuts through common myths and focuses on what actually matters when selecting engineering, PLM, CAD, and simulation software in 2026 and beyond. Key Takeaways less riskyAbout the Guest Monica Schnitger is President and Principal Analyst at Schnitger Corporation, where she advises engineering software vendors, investors, and enterprise buyers. She brings deep expertise across CAD, CAE, PLM, and digital engineering ecosystems, with a background in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from MIT and an MBA from Babson College. Resources Mentioned ● Engineering software risk evaluation ● SaaS and cloud adoption in digital engineering ● Private equity trends in software ● Digital twins and PLM evolution If you found this episode valuable: ● ✅ Follow or subscribe to Stay Sharp on your favorite podcast platform ● ⭐ Leave a review to help more listeners find the show ● 📤 Share this episode with a colleague evaluating engineering software Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is often viewed as a heavyweight discipline reserved for aerospace, defense, or highly regulated industries. In this episode of Stay Sharp, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott challenge that assumption. Joined by Eran Reinshmidt and Safae El Abkari from Dassault Systèmes, the conversation explores how MBSE principles apply directly to fast-moving consumer markets. From coffee machines and vacuum cleaners to furniture and connected appliances, the guests unpack why changing consumer trends, regulatory pressure, and competitive intensity demand a more connected, model-driven approach to product development. Through clear examples and memorable analogies, this episode shows how MBSE helps consumer product teams manage requirements, behavior, variants, and cross-disciplinary complexity without slowing innovation. Key Takeaways rate of change and system complexity Guests Eran Reinshmidt Solution Leader, Consumer Industries, Dassault Systèmes Expert in PLM and systems engineering for consumer products across home goods, appliances, lifestyle, and wearable industries Safae El Abkari, PhD Solution Engineering Consultant, Dassault Systèmes Specialist in connected products, multidisciplinary systems, and embedded systems engineering Resources Mentioned If this episode challenged how you think about product development, subscribe to Stay Sharp on your favorite podcast platform. Leave a review or share this episode with a colleague navigating complex product systems. Have a topic you want us to cover next? Email podcasts@razorleaf.com. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the Stay Sharp podcast, Juliann and Jonathan continue their digital product series with returning guest Oleg Shilovitsky, Co-Founder and CEO of OpenBOM. With over 25 years of experience in PLM and engineering software, Oleg unveils what truly sets OpenBOM apart—and why traditional PLM systems fail modern manufacturing organizations. From the shift from single-company databases to interconnected digital networks, to how product data must support real-time collaboration across engineering, procurement, and manufacturing, Oleg explains how OpenBOM tackles an industry-wide pain point: sharing the right data with the right people at the right time. He also introduces the concept of product memory—a foundational element for enabling AI and next-generation decision-making across engineering lifecycles. Key Discussion Topics Memorable Quote “AI starts with the right data. If you can’t feed the AI with clean product memory, you’ll just get noisy answers. That’s why OpenBOM builds the data foundation first—everything else comes from that.” — Oleg Shilovitsky If this episode helped clarify what modern PLM tools must deliver—and how product data can become a strategic advantage—make sure to: Follow the podcast so you don’t miss upcoming episodes in our digital product series. Leave a review sharing your biggest insight from today’s conversation Send us your topic ideas at podcast@razorleaf.com —We’d love to hear what you want us to dissect next. Stay tuned and stay sharp. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

What will digital engineering and manufacturing really look like in 2026? In this forward-looking episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott step back from day-to-day execution and examine the trends, technologies, and curveballs shaping the next phase of the industry. From AI-driven data enrichment and digital twins moving beyond PLM, to ERP vendors entering new territory, humanoid robotics, additive manufacturing at scale, and even quantum computing, this conversation blends grounded experience with thoughtful speculation. The result is a candid, wide-ranging discussion about what feels inevitable, what feels risky, and what may arrive faster than expected. Key Topics & Takeaways If you enjoyed this episode: Have a take on 2026 or want to join the conversation? 📩 Email: podcast@razorleaf.com Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

As 2025 comes to a close, Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering takes a look back at a year of standout conversations, memorable insights, and practical lessons from across the digital engineering landscape. In this special year-end episode, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott revisit powerful soundbites from guests who helped shape the show’s most meaningful discussions. Spanning AI, digital thread and digital twin, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), PLM lessons learned, and emerging industry trends, this mashup captures the ideas that resonated most with listeners and continue to influence how organizations design, build, and manage products. This episode runs a bit longer than the usual format, but it’s packed with clarity, perspective, and a few laughs along the way. Episode 116 also marks a milestone moment for Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, celebrating over 100 episodes and a growing, engaged listener community. Juliann and Jonathan extend heartfelt thanks to their guests, production team, and listeners for making 2025 such a meaningful year for the podcast. Have ideas for future topics or guests? The team would love to hear from you. 📩 Send suggestions to: podcasts@razorleaf.com 🌐 Visit the new podcast hub: staysharpindigitalengineering.com If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review or sharing it with a colleague, and as always, thanks for listening. Stay sharp. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Episode Summary AI is everywhere, but in engineering and manufacturing, hype often outpaces reality. In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, we unpack what it actually means to be “AI-ready” and why most organizations are struggling to get there. Hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott are joined by Graham Law, PLM Solution Architect at Razorleaf, to explore the unglamorous but essential foundation of successful AI initiatives: clean, governed, connected engineering data. With over 16 years in PLM and a deep IT background, Graham offers a grounded perspective on what works, what fails, and where organizations should realistically start. This conversation cuts through buzzwords to focus on practical steps, real risks, and how PLM enables AI to deliver meaningful insight rather than confident misinformation. 🔑 Key Takeaways 80% data hygiene and 20% technologyconfidently wrong AI answersstructure, context, and governancestart small👤 Guest Graham Law 📣 Call to Action If this episode helped sharpen your thinking about AI and engineering data: ● Subscribe to Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering ● Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ● Share this episode with a colleague working on AI or PLM initiatives Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode, Juliann and Jonathan sit down with John Salyers and Korey Greene of Sea Box, a company transforming standard shipping containers into high-engineering, mission-ready solutions. This is a refreshingly honest look at a PLM journey filled with false starts, side-hustle implementation work, CAD file chaos, revision control challenges, and the realities of deploying PLM in a fast-moving engineering organization. John and Korey share how Sea Box went from a home-grown Microsoft Access database that crashed “every other day” to a modern PLM system tied directly to CAD, BOMs, and ERP. They walk through what they would do differently, what worked, and how the engineering + project-management partnership has been key to moving everything forward. If you’re on your own PLM or ERP journey, you’ll hear something familiar in their story—and you’ll walk away with practical lessons to avoid the same pitfalls. Key Takeaways • False starts happen—and they’re recoverable. Sea Box had to abandon their first PLM integrator and restart the project, losing time and budget in the process. • “Just stand it up” creates long-term debt. Rushing to replicate old systems (like their EPN database) created unnecessary customization and downstream headaches. • CAD chaos is a universal pain point. Without revision control and file governance, something as simple as quoting a replacement part becomes a scavenger hunt. • CAD Connector changed everything. Push/pull of CAD models, drawings, and revisions now ties engineering design directly to BOMs and ERP. • ERP forced better discipline. Migrating to Business Central required rigor around BOM structure, revision control, and part history. • Multi-perspective leadership matters. A PM + engineer co-admin partnership allowed them to weigh impact on both engineering workflows and business processes. • Community accelerates progress. Sea Box credits the Razorleaf community and user conference for solving problems they thought were unique. • Always use a dev environment. You will break things. You should. But do it safely. If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow the podcast, leave us a rating, or share your biggest takeaway in the comments. Have a topic you'd like us to explore next? Email us at podcast@razorleaf.com. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott sit down with globally recognized PLM pioneer Dr. Martin Eigner to unpack the evolving landscape of PLM, digital threads, configuration management, and cross-enterprise integration. Dr. Eigner brings decades of research, academic leadership, and industry experience to dissect topics many engineering leaders struggle with: • What configuration items really are • Why extended digital threads matter • Why companies are starting to value integration more than best-of-breed functionality • How PLM, ERP, MES and requirements tools must work together • Why AI and graph databases could shape the next phase of engineering digitization This is a dense, high-value conversation for anyone looking to modernize engineering systems, understand digital transformation beyond buzzwords, or align organizational leadership around PLM strategy. Key Takeaways ● Configuration items span far beyond CAD models; there are typically 200–300 essential objects across the product lifecycle—from requirements to manufacturing process plans. ● A PLM system is only one piece of product lifecycle management; the full lifecycle includes concept, requirements, engineering, production, service, and recycling. ● Many companies now see integration as more valuable than functional specialization. ● The extended digital thread connects configuration items across systems, enabling true change impact analysis. ● Legacy systems create siloed data; extended threads aim to mask these silos through better connectivity. ● Graph databases may be essential to future PLM and digital-thread performance. ● Organizational challenges—not technology—are the biggest roadblocks to transformation. ● Change requires leadership ownership, better alignment between vertical and horizontal teams, and sometimes a rethink of organizational structure. Memorable Quote “There’s a trend that companies are evaluating integration higher than best-in-function—and that is new, but extremely important.” — Dr. Martin Eigner Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Why Data Models Matter in Digital Engineering (Now More Than Ever) In this episode, Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott dive deep into the growing conversation around data models in digital engineering. With increasing pressure to enable the digital thread, digital twins, and emerging AI capabilities, understanding how data is structured and why it varies across systems is more critical than ever. Together, they unpack: data modelneverThis episode is especially relevant for anyone interested in: Notable Quote: "If the AI doesn't understand the data, and it's just doing statistical prediction, the predictions can be junk. In a safety-critical situation, that's not cool." – Jonathan Scott Have questions or thoughts on this episode? Leave a comment or email podcast@razorleaf.com. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Jonathan Scott and Juliann Grant sit down with Oleg Shilovitsky, CEO and co-founder of OpenBOM, for a candid conversation about why so many engineering and manufacturing companies struggle with product data—and what they can do differently. Oleg breaks down the realities of managing product structure, BOMs, and cross-system data flow, and explains why connecting these elements early is essential for companies trying to scale. The team explores the cultural, technical, and process-driven challenges organizations face when they attempt to modernize their digital infrastructure—especially when legacy tools, disconnected databases, and informal workflows get in the way. Discussed In This Episode The Product Data Gap: Why companies often underestimate the complexity of product information—and how this gap causes friction between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and procurement. Document-Centric vs. Data-Centric Thinking: Oleg explains why traditional document-driven approaches fall short and how a shift to connected, granular data changes everything. BOM Management Reality Check: Why spreadsheets still dominate BOM management, when they break down, and how to transition to structured, traceable product data. Connecting Systems, Not Just Software: The pitfalls of building tools in isolation and why establishing a shared “system of product truth” prevents downstream chaos. Cultural and Organizational Resistance: Why digital transformation isn’t just a tooling problem—it’s a mindset challenge across teams who have “always done it this way.” Scalability and Supply Chain Insight: How connected product data improves visibility, reduces surprises, and helps companies navigate supply chain complexity. Key Takeaways • Product information isn’t just CAD files—it’s a living structure that must stay connected across the entire company. • Moving from documents to data creates clarity, consistency, and the ability to scale. • Spreadsheets may feel convenient, but they break under pressure as products grow more complex. • A unified view of product structure strengthens communication between engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain. • True digital transformation only sticks when the organization aligns culturally—not just technologically. Notable Quote “You can build the best software in the world, but if the data is disconnected, nothing works. The magic happens when all the pieces come together.” — Oleg Shilovitsky Listen & Subscribe Stay up to date on all things digital engineering—from PLM and BOM management to digital thread strategy. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch the conversation on YouTube. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.