The digital plant maturity model (DPMM) and assessment tool 3.0
In 2016, manufacturing IT leaders developed the Digital Plant Maturity Model (DPMM) to aid digital transformation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. This model defines five maturity levels, from a paper-based facility to a fully automated and adaptive plant with end-to-end value chain integration, level 5 being a future concept consistent with Industry 4.0, representing aspirational solutions for future technology.
In 2018, BioPhorum published DPMM) version 2: A best practice guide to using the BioPhorum DPMM and assessment tool and an update to the DPMM Assessment Tool which added a detailed assessment option, designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of digital maturity accompanied by recommendations for capability development. With this increased utility, the industry adopted the model to benchmark plants, build roadmaps for digital development, support business cases for investment and underpin digital transformation planning, all using a common language for the industry.
As technology continues to develop, so must the DPMM maturity levels—therefore, we have updated the DPMM. Version 3.0 includes changes to the model, new dimensions and elements in the
Assessment Tool, and an updated Best Practice Guide. DPMM V3 is driven by the need to refresh and reflect progress made in the available technologies and new business models and lift the levels as more factories adopt Industry 4.0 principles. For example, what a ‘good’ connected or predictive plant looked like five years ago has changed because industry and technology have evolved. The DPMM V3 has been developed to cover not just what is possible today, but also to define an advanced-level adaptive plant that, although not in the realm of fantasy, is beyond the capabilities of current manufacturing and IT technologies.
Assessment tool
The BioPhorum Digital Plant Maturity Model (DPMM) Assessment Tool is a structured and straightforward way to assess the digital maturity of your plants and set a target maturity level aligned with your company’s digital strategy. It can be used for internal and external benchmarking, IT roadmap development, influencing software suppliers, transformation planning, investment justification, and dependency mapping.
DPMM V3 has an increased focus on quality with two new dimensions, QC and QMS. “Process Development” is a new dimension, with an emphasis on tech transfer. The previous “IT Security and Operations” dimension has been revised, no longer focusing on systems that store and transmit digital information, the new dimension “Cybersecurity” focuses on protecting electronic information stored within systems.
Best practice guide
This guide sets out the intended use of the BioPhorum DPMM and Assessment tool, to support plant digital maturity assessments, identify capabilities to develop, create strategic plans and roadmaps, influence technology suppliers, and develop human resource competency and development frameworks. In this guide, we demonstrate the necessity for using such a tool for plant assessments in manufacturing and detail the five levels of maturity to identify the commonalities within the industry. Essentially, it describes two approaches to using the assessment tool, quick and detailed, sharing learning along the way and indicating future direction.