PDM is the abbreviation for product data management. A PDM system is therefore a technology that is used to manage relevant production data. It provides company-wide information on all data generated during the product life cycle and its creation process. As part of the operational coordination and information system, it implements methods and rules that are to be applied in connection with product data management. Before the term product data management came into general use towards the end of the 1980s, engineering data management (EDM) was the common term.
How does a PDM system work?
Ein PDM-System steuert, wie ein ERP-System (Enterprise Resource Planning) auch, einen Teil des Produktentstehungsprozesses, es setzt nur an einer anderen Stelle an. Konkret konzentriert es sich auf die Bereiche Entwurf und Konstruktion und speichert bzw. verwaltet Informationen wie etwa Stammdaten, Stücklisten, Konstruktionszeichnungen oder CAD-Modelle. Ein solches Tool beinhaltet diverse Schnittstellen – etwa zu CAx-, ERP- oder alternativer Software.
What are the advantages of a PDM system?
A PDM system enables companies to manage production data centrally. This avoids duplication or the inability to find documents due to dispersion. In addition, processes are often accelerated, which can result in higher customer satisfaction and ultimately a decisive competitive advantage. This process acceleration is due to the fact that the required information about products can be retrieved and used more quickly from the databases. From product development to the end of the product life cycle, teamwork is made considerably easier as all relevant information is permanently collected in the PDM system and can only be processed by authorized personnel. The most important advantages at a glance:
- Production data is managed centrally
- Quick retrieval of data
- No duplication or tedious searching for documents
- Accelerated processes lead to greater customer satisfaction
Differences between PDM and PLM
The fundamental aim of PDM is to reduce the time and costs incurred during product development. At the same time, the quality of product development should be increased. It can therefore be seen as the foundation for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). The latter refers to a process-oriented strategic approach that aims to achieve higher productivity throughout the company. To achieve this, all relevant processes in the product lifecycle are subject to constant analysis and optimization. Product Lifecycle Management systems are largely based on PDM for the management of production data, which is why it is difficult to implement a PLM system without PDM. As product data management starts with the creation of products and extends right through to sales, this is where the greatest added value in the product lifecycle lies – especially for SMEs.
Does it make sense to integrate PDM into ERP software?
It almost always makes sense for SMEs and other companies to link software solutions that operate separately from one another. The best place to start is with product data management (PDM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP). As all data generated during the product lifecycle is managed here, together they form the core of product creation. Nevertheless, they differ considerably in terms of their functional depth: an ERP system should cover as many areas of the company as possible, but therefore often has to make compromises in terms of functional depth. The opposite is true for PDM: such a system provides excellent coverage of one area (such as design and construction), but other departments can only benefit from these advantages to a limited extent – the typical “island knowledge”. As a result, employees no longer have to manually exchange design data between the two systems and errors due to redundancies are reduced to a minimum.
PDM and ERP: detailed advice from Asseco Solutions
Create a rule framework for coordinating data exchange and declare war on frictional losses between your departments! If you would like to find out more about PDM systems and integration into the ERP system, please contact our employees. We would also like to draw your attention to the article “4 things you should consider when integrating ERP and PDM” in our blog. With APplus, you not only gain control over your business processes, but also a strong partner at your side who will provide you with comprehensive support.
