ZF Unifies its Product Development Environment
Learn how software, mechanical, and electrical components come together in a useful flow for engineers.
Get the Full StoryWhat is Product Data Management (PDM)?
Product data management is the use of software to help organizations connect and communicate product information across globally distributed teams where multiple product development tools may be used. PDM enables controlled global collaboration across concurrent design environments from requirements to system models to design (mechanical, electrical, and software), simulation, validation, and verification. It guarantees that every model, drawing or document is secured and easily found in a central repository. Part and document searches leverage the entire history and associated relationships of each piece of content. With PDM, you ensure that every version and revision is tracked, required approvals have happened, and manual tasks have been automated.
Benefits of PDM
Adopt a smarter way of working and begin increasing efficiency, improving collaboration, and laying the foundation for your digital transformation journey.
Drive Engineering Efficiencies
Manage and link all product related data, ensuring only correct versions of documents are distributed to responsible personnel at the right time.
Increase Global Collaboration
Enable internal and external teams to provide product development updates, submit ideas, and receive feedback in real time.
Improve Data Quality
Manage all CAD tools (Creo, SolidWorks, Inventor, NX, Catia, and more) in one environment, ensuring that there is no missing or misinterpreted information.
Greater Document Control
Provide a system for managing employee read & sign training, electronic signatures, controlled printing, configurable watermarks and more.
Better IP Protection
Control access to internal and external users’ who’ve been authorized to view and edit data. Establish further control by using security labels (ex. ITAR clearance) to accommodate temporary agreements for specific participants.
Decrease Time Searching for Data
Assign classification and attribute values as parts and documents are developed to create standardized system-generated names, making it easier to read, translate, and search for data.
Key Product Data Management Capabilities
Maintain legacy information and manage new product data, providing full digital traceability. Ensure everyone is using the right version for development, analysis, manufacturing, and procurement.
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Control CAD data: Easy HTML UI and CAD tool integrations including Creo, Creo Elements/Direct Modeling/Drafting, CATIA V5, NX, SolidWorks, Inventor, AutoCAD
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Secure collaboration: Fast and secure role-based access to product data by disbursed teams and value chain partners
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Role-based apps: Self-service, out-of-the-box role and task-based apps that provide contextualized information for non-CAD users
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Release and change process: Simple workflow capabilities to route documents for approval and/or review
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ECAD data management: Synchronize ECAD libraries with PLM Parts and MCAD models (Zuken, Cadence, Altium and more). Provide easy and accurate enterprise access to complex electronic design data.
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Generate viewables: Publishing of CAD to lightweight viewables for review and consumption outside of engineering
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Multi-CAD editing: Edit product data within major CAD systems using check-in check-out, downloads, family tables, virtual components, and save-as
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Lifecycle management: Control CAD data status from WIP (work-in-progress) to release
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Microsoft Office integration: Initiate promotion, version comparison, and link to detailed information in GUI and web browsers
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Create new documents: Drag and drop using Windows File Explorer or browse the PDM system as a folder structure
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Advanced search: Search, save, share, and visualize by keyword, attributes, conditions, and classifications relationships
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Post publishing: Trigger auto publishing, job scheduling, and manual publishing; publish XML doc maps from configuration specs to various formats
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Document classification: Organize documents from classification structures and hierarchy for searching and re-use
How is PDM Software Used
Learn how your peers are managing their product data using PTC’s robust product data management software.
Explore PTC’s Windchill enterprise PDM PLM solution
Windchill is PTC’s PDM solution for enterprise PLM. Follow your product from the concept stage through its entire lifecycle and full release with confidence. Windchill removes the burden of data administration and lets product designers get back to what they do best: design.
