What 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.
Why is PDM important?
PDM is important because engineers in organizations without a robust PDM system spend 25% more time on nonproductive data management tasks.
Designing a product means having to manage many distinct types of data. With PDM, you gain efficiencies in organizing, tracking, and re-using all design data centrally with a single source of truth. Spend less time searching for CAD files, recreating data, updating systems, and answering requests from non-CAD users. Hit your cost and schedule targets by eliminating non-value tasks associated with managing and sharing secure product data.
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Start improving product data management
Is your design team struggling with collaboration? Are tight market schedules burdened by redundant work and ineffective communication? Take a look at our E-Book, “Product Data Management: The Foundation of the Digital Thread and Digital Twin.”
Delve into how embracing Product Data Management (PDM) eradicates duplications and streamlines end-to-end processes by fostering a harmonized and secure environment.
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.
Control CAD data: Easy HTML UI and CAD tool integrations including Creo, Creo Elements/Direct Modeling/Drafting, CATIA V5, NX, SolidWorks, Inventor, AutoCAD
Secure collaboration: Fast and secure role-based access to product data by disbursed teams and value chain partners
Role-based apps: Self-service, out-of-the-box role and task-based apps that provide contextualized information for non-CAD users
Release and change process: Simple workflow capabilities to route documents for approval and/or review
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.
Generate viewables: Publishing of CAD to lightweight viewables for review and consumption outside of engineering
Multi-CAD editing: Edit product data within major CAD systems using check-in check-out, downloads, family tables, virtual components, and save-as
Lifecycle management: Control CAD data status from WIP (work-in-progress) to release
Microsoft Office integration: Initiate promotion, version comparison, and link to detailed information in GUI and web browsers
Create new documents: Drag and drop using Windows File Explorer or browse the PDM system as a folder structure
Advanced search: Search, save, share, and visualize by keyword, attributes, conditions, and classifications relationships
Post publishing: Trigger auto publishing, job scheduling, and manual publishing; publish XML doc maps from configuration specs to various formats
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.