PLM Architecture and Deployment
Confidence, speed, and ease of administration
Manage, associate, orchestrate, and flexibly deploy product data for the enterprise
Windchill supports real-time product lifecycle management within and across disciplines, geographies, and the supply chain. Windchill is a modern, flexible, scalable, and secure platform for data-driven processes and digital business transformation.
Windchill’s open PLM architecture
Windchill’s 100% web-based PLM architecture has been designed to easily integrate with existing IT, internet, and security infrastructures for remote work and multi-site collaboration. Windchill is optimized for agility and flexibility. PLM deployments with PTC can be on-premises, in the cloud, on a single server for a workgroup, or on a highly scalable clustered system with performance optimized for content distribution. Based on the industry standard J2EE, internet and web services interfaces, and powerful federation for maintaining data with other systems, Windchill seamlessly interoperates in heterogeneous environments.
Windchill security
Securing customer data and systems is a top priority concern at PTC. Windchill’s approach to security is multi-level. Rigorous security controls are built in throughout the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) following the OWASP OpenSAMM model. This includes incorporating industry best practices as well as automated scanning tools. Incident response communications provide transparency to pro-actively inform our customers through PTC’s automated support system regarding reported vulnerabilities, whereby they are advised of any potential risks and provided a recommended remediation. From an application security perspective, Windchill can be flexibly configured to meet business needs including IP protection through access control rules, security audit event tracking, as well as various authentication mechanisms including Single Sign-On.
Windchill upgrade manager
Windchill’s PLM architecture allows you to upgrade data-in-place and automates the gathering of system properties, both saving time and reducing effort in the overall process. With an easy to use guided step-by-step user interface, fast time for schema upgrades, and new data loads, there is low user disruption and high speed of adoption.
Admin and support
PTC is dedicated to your success. Windchill's PLM architecture provides a rich set of business administrative and support capabilities to decrease IT costs and reduce incident rates. Tools for rapid deployment of configuration changes include conflict detection and resolution. Always-on system monitoring helps ensure SLAs are met. IoT is leveraged to provide product telemetry insights so that issues are detected before they become “issues.” Learn from PTC experts and drive an even faster ROI through self-paced and in-product learning resources, live classes, or custom learning programs.
Flexible delivery options
With cloud and SaaS technology playing an increasingly critical role in digital transformation strategies, PTC's goal is to meet every customer with a deployment that fits their strategy at each stage of their journey. Regardless of their deployment model, all windchill customers have access to the same industry leading best practice capabilities and open architecture that supports third party tool integrations.
For customers interested in a SaaS PLM option, Windchill+ shares the same codebase as Windchill. This means they can enjoy all the benefits of SaaS without compromising on PLM functionality. Key SaaS benefits include ease of administration, minimum effort capability adoption, built-in security, and full stack service. The sum of these benefits is an accelerated time-to-value, and frictionless adoption of PLM across the extended enterprise.
For highly regulated industries, like aerospace and defense or medical device, Windchill cloud offerings can meet strict security safeguards and compliance requirements such as FedRAMP and IL5.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the right cloud SaaS PLM
Explore what manufacturers need to think about as they consider if, when, and how to adopt cloud PLM. In the guide you’ll learn:
- Why more than half of manufacturers are looking to the cloud to support product innovation and manufacturing
- How to navigate PLM options and choose the best-suited cloud PLM option for your business
- Specific considerations for maximizing value and driving adoption with product developers and IT