Product lifecycle management technology assessment: a case study in the industrial equipment industry

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) adoption is very important for companies to sustain and stay competitive in market particularly to the organizations that involving from design to manufacturing. Many companies are struggling whether to adopt PLM because implementing PLM involves very extensive changes in intra and inter-organizational practices. PLM assessment is an important activity in the pre-implementation stage to determine the scope of implementation. However, the requirements and scope of implementation are always influenced by the users’ paradigm of “needs” instead of the company’s current PLM maturity level. This research covered the PLM assessment in using Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) focused in PLM technology components. The research was based on case study approach conducted in an Industrial Equipment company. The scope of assessment was to investigate the technology components in respect to data, process and methodology. The empirical results showed PLM technology components prioritization determined through the hierarchy analysis could provide more consistent output compared to user’s direct judgement. The authors argue that PLM assessment in technology components prioritization requires consideration of its maturity level because the outcomes provide a better guideline to define a strategic roadmap for PLM implementation

Mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of Clinacanthus nutans lindau extracts: inhibition of cytokine production and Toll-like receptor-4 activation

Clinacanthus nutans has had a long history of use in folk medicine in Malaysia and Southeast Asia; mostly in the relief of inflammatory conditions. In this study, we investigated the effects of different extracts of C. nutans upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation in order to identify its mechanism of action. Extracts of leaves and stem bark of C. nutans were prepared using polar and non-polar solvents to produce four extracts, namely polar leaf extract (LP), non-polar leaf extract (LN), polar stem extract (SP), and non-polar stem extracts (SN). The extracts were standardized by determining its total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. Its anti-inflammatory effects were assessed on LPS induced nitrite release in RAW264.7 macrophages and Toll-like receptor (TLR-4) activation in TLR-4 transfected human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-BlueTM-hTLR4 cells). The levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p40, and IL-17) in treated RAW264.7 macrophages were quantified to verify its anti-inflammatory effects. Western blotting was used to investigate the effect of the most potent extract (LP) on TLR-4 related inflammatory proteins (p65, p38, ERK, JNK, IRF3) in RAW264.7 macrophages. All four extracts produced a significant, concentration-dependent reduction in LPS-stimulated nitric oxide, LPS-induced TLR-4 activation in HEK-BlueTM-hTLR4 cells and LPS-stimulated cytokines production in RAW264.7 macrophages. The most potent extract, LP, also inhibited all LPS-induced TLR-4 inflammatory proteins. These results provide a basis for understanding the mechanisms underlying the previously demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity of C. nutans extracts