Bob Hillier, Managing Director of PLM software company, Design Rule, offers some best practice advice for companies caught up in the PLM vs ERP debate. The human body contains over 600 muscles and more than 200 bones. Although the muscular and skeletal systems fulfil separate functions, they also work together to facilitate movement. In many ways, the analogy is relevant for companies deciding between implementing Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).