Product Data Management (PDM)
Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
All the information a company generates is essential, from the current market situation, competitors, and focus groups. However, product data is a company’s most vital information.
To manufacture a product, design drawings and engineering models are needed, requirements among other documents, to develop it correctly. However, having several information channels can make this process a tedious task, and, above all, this data can be lost due to misplacement, accidents, and computer viruses, among others.
Today, there is Product Data Management, a tool capable of protecting all this information efficiently and securely, as well as being able to share it more smoothly within the company, increasing production efficiency levels, maintaining quality standards, and even to improve even the designs, giving way to innovation.
But what exactly is it? What are its benefits? Let’s find out.
What is a Product Data Management?
A Product Data Management (PDM) is software that records, collects, and manages product information on a single platform in an optimal digital way and keeps this data safe and up-to-date.
This information can be reused in design, production, and new business processes. Concentrating all this data in one place facilitates the management of product information, from the procedures for its development to specific data such as:
- CAD Project (Computer-Aided Design): Design drawings and engineering models (2D and 3D).
- Bills of Materials: This refers to materials, components, and properties with instructions and precautions on how to use them.
- Product specifications: This includes model, size, color, physical appearance, and other information.
- Production processes: This involves the equipment, the labor needed, and everything related to the manufacturing process.
- Warehouse information: quantity of material, placements, and locations. This information helps to control the storage better and know when is the right time to buy new material to fulfill an order.
- Manufacturing and instructions: This includes licenses, standards, and certificates.
- Commercial: This information includes prices, clients, and regional data.
- Suppliers
- Salespeople
One of the main functions of Product Data Management is to provide the valuable information required by manufacturing operators, engineers, and the design department so that they can develop a specific product. These different teams working on the same project can access this information from other devices, which makes information sharing fluid and more efficient.
A PDM system can be used in various company departments, such as the purchasing and marketing departments, to use basic information for sales. However, engineers and the production department are the ones that use Product Data Management most frequently, which are areas that focus more on creating and improving a product.
As a whole, Product Data Management software is a tool that concentrates, organizes, and shares vital information related to product development in a safe way across the company.
The information provided by Product Data Management helps create a product from its conception to its obsolescence. This management is known as Product Lifecycle Management or PLM. A PDM system is generally divided into two areas to achieve this:
- Product Data Management: It is in charge of controlling the structure of a product, its parts, requirements, and documents, among other data.
- Process Management: Collects information on workflows, approval processes, and design changes, among others.
A PDM can also be configured so that only certain people can access specific files to maintain better control and greater security.
How does Product Data Management work?
Product Data Management collects all the data from the product designs of a company, including the product’s history. PDM software integrates this data with tools like an ERP system that manages data and automates engineering processes better, improving workflow.
In addition, PDM software can work with several components, such as:
File management tools
The engineers and design team work with many big files that can reach more than 1 GB; therefore, an instrument capable of organizing and managing these large files is needed without suffering from lag, which is the specialty of PDM software.
Collaboration tools
Many PDM systems come with additional tools to help improve teamwork, especially if several departments are involved in developing a product. This way, the PDM system can organize feedback, and a company can improve its manufacturing processes and products.
In addition, companies can now count on professionals in another country in such a globalized world. PDM makes this collaboration easier by synchronizing data so the project can move forward more effectively and organized.
Role management tools
With this component in the PDM system, a business maintains even greater security over the data by assigning a manager and defining roles and access privileges. In this way, a manager can set which employee or team can see which information and not see more than they should.
By centralizing product data, companies with Advancing Planning and Scheduling can facilitate the analysis of this information. Businesses can gain a better perspective on their product performance, identify new trends and opportunities, and make data-driven decisions to improve their production processes and profitability.
Advanced production planning with AI – SkyPlanner APS
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Benefits of a Product Data Management Software
The collection of data generated by PDM software allows a company to obtain great benefits such as:
Streamline productivity
PDM software organizes the data in a single platform, allowing managers and professionals to access the correct information needed for a particular product in which they are working. Access to this central and organized data streamlines the work of engineers, developers, and designers by having a better flow of information and being able to find and verify data.
Another benefit is that a PDM can automate manual processes like creating bills of materials, which increases work efficiency. A PDM and an ERP management system can also help increase the company’s productivity. Learn the benefits of shorter lead times.
Controls quality standards
A PDM software shares the correct data that engineers, designers, and the production department must use for elaborating a design, such as the measurements, requirements, materials, and steps to follow. This information allows the manufacturing processes to follow the specific design steps for the product’s manufacture, guaranteeing quality during its development.
Product Data Management can also help update or create a new product with designs and drawings that are already stored in the system instead of starting from scratch.
Prevents confusion and delays
Many of the errors and bottlenecks that occur within a company are the lack of communication, so a PDM system, having the data centralized and organized, can help streamline the processes that are carried out in the company, avoiding losing control, time with doubts and confusions.
Reduces costs
Having to remake a product wastes a company’s money and time. With a PDM system, a company can reduce operating costs in manufacturing a product without repurchasing expensive materials and better using resources and labor.
Improves teamwork
Accessing a single information channel with product data managed by PDM software facilitates team collaboration. This centralized organization of information enhances the manufacturing of a product and helps to make better decisions during its development. This communication can lead to innovation by promoting feedback between various departments and professionals, improving the product or its development processes.
A simple example is that the purchasing area has access to this data, such as the necessary parts or the specifications to make the correct purchases, or even if the company has collaborators worldwide, PDM can help with communication between various locations.
Increases data security
The information collected in spreadsheets or even on paper can be lost, infected with a virus, or stolen. However, with a PDM system, your data will have different levels of access and passwords to protect the security of the data. In addition, all these security requirements ensure that only the company’s authorized personnel can access this information.
Assists with regulations requirements
Depending on where the company is located, a business must follow specific regulations to certify a product, or the company won’t be able to sell the merchandise in the market. A PDM system stores all of this information for the design team, engineers, and developers so they consider this data while designing a product. Managers can even add information on the type of market and language to reach the ideal target audience.
Helps to innovate and opens opportunities
A company can use the information from the PDM system and court it with the latest trends, analytics, or a product forecast and start developing new merchandise that can meet future trends and stay a step ahead of the competitors, making a company more competitive.
PDM vs. PIM
Although a PDM provides valuable information to sales and marketing departments, the data it handles is best used for product development and improvement by engineers, designers, and production managers.
Product Information Manager (PIM), on the other hand, stores and contains the information that is needed for sale, such as images, videos, descriptions of size, color, and additional helpful information for the consumer in different languages where the product is available, among others. This information is used by the sales and marketing team and shared in apps, e-commerce, websites, and others.
Both sound very similar as they contain relevant information, but the big difference is that PDM focuses more on creation and PIM on selling.
Improve your company and protect your data!
A PDM brings many advantages for a business, mainly if they constantly manufacture different products. Integrating Product Data Management with a system like Skyplanner’s APS can take your company to the next level.
Our team is ready to design the best solution to optimize your production processes and make your company more profitable and competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Within this division, we’ll answer some common questions about Product Data Management and the advantages your company can gain from integrating SkyPlanner APS with this system.
1. What is Product Data Management (PDM)?
Product Data Management (PDM) is a software system that records, collects, and manages product information on a single digital platform. It ensures this data remains safe, up-to-date, and readily available for reuse in design, production, and new business processes.
2. What types of information does a PDM handle?
A PDM handles a wide range of product-related information, including CAD projects, bills of materials, product specifications, production processes, warehouse information, manufacturing instructions, commercial information, supplier details, and salesperson information.
3. How does a Product Data Management system work?
PDM software collects all the data from a company’s product designs, including the product’s history. It integrates this data with tools like an ERP system that manages data and automates engineering processes, improving workflow. It also collaborates with file management, collaboration, and role management tools to further optimize product development.
4. What are some main advantages of using Product Data Management software?
Some main benefits of using PDM software include streamlined productivity, adherence to quality standards, prevention of confusion and delays, reduced costs, improved teamwork, increased data security, assistance with regulation requirements, and promotion of innovation and new opportunities.
5. How does Product Data Management differ from Product Information Management (PIM)?
While PDM and PIM handle relevant product information, PDM primarily focuses on product development and improvement by engineers, designers, and production managers. In contrast, PIM focuses on storing and managing information required for sales, such as images, videos, descriptions, and other consumer-friendly details.
6. How can I integrate Product Data Management into my business?
Integrating PDM with a system like Skyplanner’s Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) can optimize your production processes, making your business more profitable and competitive. Contact us and learn about our solutions for your company.
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