Product Data Management (PDM)
Product data management (PDM) is a collection of technologies and systems that are used to manage and control data related to the product’s lifecycle, from its design to its manufacture and post-market development. It allows engineers and other stakeholders to collaborate and make informed decisions, with the unified store of product data they can access whenever they need.
PDM systems provide a complete audit trial that tracks changes to product data as it moves through the product development process. This helps to ensure that the most up-to-date and compliant versions of the product’s design documents are available to the authorized stakeholders that need them.
There are three primary components of a PDM system:
1. Data Storage: This component of a PDM system is a central repository for all product data which one can access from anyplace. Data storage also allows for stringent access control, as it is critical that people are only able to modify or access certain components of the product design if they are authorized to do so.
2. Data Management: This allows stakeholders to quickly and accurately locate relevant product data while also enforcing version control, security and copyright measures that protect the integrity of the product data. It also allows tracking of who modified the product information, what changes have been done, when the changes were accomplished and the choice of different view points.
3. Data Visualization: Lastly, with this component, users can create visual representations of their product data enabling better communication and collaboration.
PDM can also be used in conjunction with workflow management systems to automate processes in product design and development. Automating processes eliminates time-consuming tasks, allows companies to track performance metrics, improves quality control and further secures product data repositories by providing access control for certain users and user groups.
Overall, PDM can give an organization the leverage it needs to proactively manage the product lifecycle from concept to market. It offers an array of benefits from increased efficiency due to automated processes and improved security of data to providing detailed analytics that show a holistic view of the product. All of this makes possible data-driven decisions that can increase the marketability and profitability of the products. Despite the various benefits of a PDM system, a key area of concern is the cost of implementation and running the solution. However, the long-term benefits of a well-integrated, comprehensive PDM solution often make it worth the expenditure.
