WHAT SKILLS DOES A TEAMCENTER ADMINISTRATOR NEED?

Sometimes I get questions like how and what you need to learn to become a Teamcenter Administrator. Some specific questions include:

• Will learning SQL databases help me get a job as a Teamcenter Administrator?
• What should I learn to work with BMIDE (Integrated Development Environment) – a tool used to edit data models in Teamcenter?
• If I want to set up a server to run Teamcenter software, do I need to learn SQL or Unix?

A short answer is “It depends.”

To answer this, we need to discuss the different types of ‘Teamcenter admin’ roles. Depending on your workplace, administration may be handled by one person or a group, each responsible for specific tasks. I will highlight the differences among these types of Teamcenter administration.

Database Administrator

At the basic level, a database administrator maintains the database server. This person doesn’t need to know much about Teamcenter—it’s just one set of data to manage, adjust, and back up regularly. At this level, there’s nothing specific about Teamcenter to know. It’s just one of many datasets they handle.

To excel as a database administrator, focus on database management software like Oracle, DB2, SQL Server… Teamcenter knowledge is not yet required.

Server Administrator

The next level involves one or more people installing Teamcenter software on servers, setting up caches, configuring web tiers, etc. They use TEM (Terminal management and security software) to deploy sample data models. Server administrators need to know a little about Teamcenter’s structure but not in-depth how it works or is used.

At this level, focus on where you install Teamcenter software and whether to choose JBoss or Websphere. The skills are similar to regular Unix or Windows server administrators.

Data Model Administrator

These are the people designing data models using BMIDE. At this level, things get interesting. This is when you start configuring Teamcenter to meet your organization’s processes and needs.

You will need some BMIDE skills and basic XML knowledge (not expert-level). A solid understanding of object-oriented modeling is essential. Practice designing object-oriented systems extensively.

The most important skill here is BMIDE itself—especially how to configure it. There are countless settings in BMIDE, each becoming a valuable tool. The more tools you have, the more you can accomplish. Read as much documentation and practice with BMIDE as much as possible.

The knowledge you gain today will help you solve complex problems in the future. The deeper your understanding, the better solutions you can propose for challenging issues.

Of course, mastering one tool is not enough. You also need to learn as much as possible about how the users’ business operates—not just technical knowledge but design and manufacturing processes, and real-world company operations. Ask many questions and remember the answers.

Application Administrator

Application administrators are Teamcenter users who can oversee the DBA. They are similar to data model administrators in setting up Teamcenter for regular users.

They also design workflows, set access rules, and structure the organization. Workflow design is a key area to find creative solutions, making it one of the most interesting tasks for an application administrator.

Just like understanding business processes is important for a data model administrator, it is equally important for an application administrator.

Final Advice

In my opinion, to excel in Teamcenter administration, avoid being a task-doer who only follows instructions. Become a problem-solver who understands issues and decides what needs to be done.

Not every suggestion from a manager or client is correct. You need to decide what to add and the attributes of each item. Understand the client’s problems and propose solutions. That’s when you can truly be proud of your work (applicable to any profession).

Now you know:

– What type of administrator are you?

– What type of administrator do you want to become?

– What skills do you find most useful for your role?

Source: plmdojo.com