Product Data Management

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Product Data Management (PDM) is a category of computer software used to control data related to products. PDM creates and manages relations between sets of data that define a product, and store those relationships in a database. It is an important tool in product lifecycle management.

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Fields of Use 3 History of PDM 4 Software Providers today 5 Capabilities 6 Software and Hardware technologies 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links

[edit] Introduction

The information being stored and managed (on one or more file servers) will include engineering data such as Computer-aided design (CAD) models, drawings and their associated documents. "Associated documents" is a collector term for: requirements, specifications, manufacturing plans, assembly plans, test plans and test procedures. The package may also include product visualization data. The central database will also manage metadata such as owner of a file and release status of the components. The package will: control check-in and check-out of the product data to multi-user; carry out engineering change management and release control on all versions/issues of components in a product; build and manipulate the product structure Bill of Materials (BOM) for assemblies; and assist in configurations management of product variants. This enables automatic reports on product costs, etc. Furthermore, PDM enables companies producing complex products to spread product data in to the entire PLM launch-process. This significantly enhances the effectiveness of the launch process.

PDM Advantages:

• Protect project files with simple security;
• Accelerate return on investment with easy setup;
• Spend less time organizing and tracking design data;
• Improve productivity through reuse of product design data;
• Enhance collaboration.

[edit] Fields of Use

PDM is mainly used by engineers to manage their work and to access data of others in the design team. It is used in most industries^[1] but is used to an advanced level in Automative and Aerospace.

[edit] History of PDM

PDM stems from traditional paper based drawing and parts list file systems. Initially many companies used in house developed computer systems but these have been gradually replaced by proprietory systems, most of which are provided by PLM/CAD software vendors.

[edit] Software Providers today

Most larger CAD vendors have some kind of PDM offering. Standard off-the-shelf CAD (Autodesk, etc) has PDM functionality built-in. CAD vendors in an industrial niche usually have a separate closed offering (example, textile CAD - STYLEtexpro,Lectra, Gerber, etc). Other are not industry specific and can handle multiple CAD systems (examples UGS ‘s Teamcenter and SofTech, Inc.'s ProductCenter).

Major PDM offerings include: Enovia (Dassault Systems), Teamcenter (UGS), ProductCenter (SofTech, Inc.) and Windchill (PTC).

[edit] Capabilities

• Storage and retrieval of product information
• Handling of business process flows
  • Change management
  • Revision Control
• Product Structure management
  • bills of material
  • Product configurations
  • Product variations
  • Product versions
• Project tracking
• Resource planning

[edit] Software and Hardware technologies

• Server Side
  • C
  • C++
  • Java
• Client Side
  • Web
• 2 Tier
• 4 Tier

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

Miller, Ed (Oct. 1998). What is PDM. Mechanical Engineering Magazine.