NEC enhances its Obbligato series of PLM software products: Press Releases

Tokyo, July 28, 2026 - NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) today announced that it is enhancing its Obbligato (*1) series of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM; *2) software products, which hold the top domestic market share in Japan (*3). Sales of Obbligato R5, the latest version of NEC’s Obbligato PLM software, are scheduled to begin in October 2026.

With Obbligato R5, NEC will further develop its expertise in engineering chain and Bill of Materials (BOM) management to enable the circulation of previously siloed and duplicated data across the entire monozukuri (i.e., a manufacturing style unique to Japan) process, while also strengthening the use of AI and linkage with environmental data, such as environmental BOM and chemical substances in products. With "Monozukuri Master" (*4), comprised of BOM, BOP (*5), and other Monozukuri Master data, at its core, Obbligato R5 seamlessly integrates operations and data across five chains, including engineering and supply chains. This enables the cross-functional utilization of data, thereby facilitating faster and more accurate management decisions. Moreover, by adopting an upgrade-free architecture that minimizes the burden of future system updates, Obbligato R5 delivers continuous value and supports sustainable monozukuri that is resilient to change.

Diagram showing how Obbligato can be used to enhance the entire monozukuri process

Background

The manufacturing industry is currently facing sweeping changes, including supply chain destabilization arising from geopolitical risks, increasing complexity of products and operations due to the diversification of customer needs, and the challenge of skill succession as a result of labor shortages. In addition, information management and traceability throughout the entire product lifecycle is becoming increasingly important due to more stringent environmental regulations, as exemplified by the upcoming launch of the Digital Product Passport (DPP; *6). In light of this, overall optimization in monozukuri and swift, data-driven decision-making is becoming vital. Meanwhile, since conventional systems require large-scale modifications and incur massive costs every time there is an update, the accumulation of technical debt, which impedes business growth and adaptability to change, has also emerged as a challenge.

Aiming to address these challenges, NEC set out to enhance its Obbligato series of PLM software products and drastically enhance their functionality. As a result, data previously siloed across separate systems can be connected across processes to support data-driven management at the company-wide level. In addition, Obbligato R5 will foster sustainable corporate growth by proactively utilizing AI and bolstering compliance with environmental regulations.

Features and Value Provided by Obbligato R5

1. Support of data-based management decisions based on Monozukuri Master

By centralizing master data linking everything from design to manufacturing, services, and the environment within the Monozukuri Master, Obbligato will evolve into a "Monozukuri Master Platform" through which all process data circulates. This centralization of master data within Obbligato makes it possible to accurately manage data across all five chains, including engineering, supply, and sustainable chains. Moreover, by integrating it with core systems such as ERP, MES (*7), or IoT, and actual production data, differences between plans drawn up in the design phase and actual worksite results can be visualized and analyzed. Starting with the master data, data is circulated throughout all five chains, driving not only improvements on the front lines of manufacturing but also sustainable management improvements on a company-wide level. This, in turn, increases the accuracy and speed of management decisions, supporting manufacturing transformation.

Achieving continuous management improvement across the entire company through data-driven decision-making

2. Achievement of continuous advancements and functionality enhancements with architecture that does not require upgrades

The adoption of a new platform architecture has enabled the creation of a platform requiring no upgrades, making it possible to always use the latest version without the need for large-scale modifications. In addition to preventing system updates from becoming massive projects, this facilitates the seamless addition of new functionalities and integration with peripheral systems. With the staggered release of operational functions enhancing each process several times a year, users can add or expand the functions they need at any time based on their situation. Also, the employment of a subscription-based model keeps start-up costs low while also balancing IT investment and reducing operational overhead.

Specifically, users can utilize the 150% BOM approach to respond quickly to diverse market needs and flexibly incorporate the latest AI functions and more without interrupting operations. In this way, Obbligato will evolve into a data platform supporting every aspect of monozukuri, making it possible to swiftly adapt to market changes, laws and regulations, and technological advancements.

Diagram of the new platform architecture

3. Centralized management of environmental data through CMP integration

By integrating Obbligato R5 with the Chemical and circular Management Platform (CMP) application (*8) scheduled to launch this fall, information on chemical substances in products throughout the supply chain can be centrally managed. In addition to ensuring traceability and streamlining environmental regulatory compliance, this will contribute to risk reduction and the strengthening of competitiveness through environmental measures. Also, because it is compatible with data across all processes from design to manufacturing, services, and the environment, Obbligato R5 can be utilized by a wide range of companies engaged in monozukuri, from chemical manufacturers to parts and product manufacturers.

Launch Information

Product name: Obbligato R5
Timing of launch: October 2026
Price: Starting at 5.8 million yen/month for 1,000 users
- *
  This price may vary depending on the software configuration used.
- *
  When implementing this solution, fees for initial setup, customization, and system integration (SI) will be charged separately.
Sales target: 100 companies over the next three years

Under its value creation model, "BluStellar" (*9), NEC provides end-to-end services ranging from strategic vision consulting to BluStellar Scenarios and offerings leading to implementation, all based on three core pillars: its business model, its technology, and its organization/human resources. Leveraging NEC’s advanced cross-industry expertise and cutting-edge technologies developed and refined through years of experience, NEC BluStellar transforms business models, addresses social challenges, and resolves management issues.

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Notes:

(*1)

Obbligato is the name of a PLM software developed and sold by NEC. Centered on the Bill of Materials (BOM) and Bill of Process (BOP), the foundational information for manufacturing, it aggregates and manages diverse types of information and enables cross-functional use, helping manufacturers build resilient manufacturing operations capable of adapting to change.
https://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/obbligato/
(*2)
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) involves reforms and initiatives designed to enhance product development capabilities and the systems that support them. These enhancements are achieved by integrating the management of product and technical data throughout the entire lifecycle of a product, from planning and design to production and maintenance.
(*3)
Source: Techno Systems Research Co., Ltd. 2025 Markey Analysis Survey for Machinery-Related CAD/PLM Businesses (August 2025)
According to the survey, Obbligato holds a 32.3% share based on shipment volume and the number of customer sites where it has been implemented, giving it the top share in the domestic PLM market.
(*4)
Monozukuri Master is foundational information that spans the entire process from product design through manufacturing, including BOMs, BOPs, drawing data, and parts data.
(*5)
While a BOM (Bill of Materials) represents product configuration information indicating which parts are needed and in what quantities, a BOP (Bill of Process) represents manufacturing process information indicating which processes are used, how the product is made, and what equipment and tools are used. Both BOM and BOP are important foundational information for manufacturing companies.
(*6)
A DPP (Digital Product Passport) is a mechanism for centrally managing information digitally across the entire product lifecycle to ensure traceability and sustainability. It is attracting attention as a means of addressing environmental regulations.
(*7)
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is a system for centrally managing a company's management resources, while MES (Manufacturing Execution System) is a system for managing production execution at manufacturing sites.
(*8)
Information on CMP: https://cmp-consortium.com/english/cmp
(*9)

NEC BluStellar is a value creation model that leverages NEC’s cutting-edge technologies, developed and refined through years of experience and proven cross-industry expertise. It aims to transform business models, address social challenges, resolve management issues, and lead customers into a brighter future.
https://www.nec.com/en/global/necblustellar/index.html

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