PLM is engineering drawing management software (EDMS)
The essential output of engineering
design is not a product, but the technical data necessary for
replicating the product accurately, consistently and
efficiently.
Engineering drawing content
Your engineering drawings are the essential communication method for
conveying design data. In most cases, the engineering drawing package is
created using computer-aided design (CAD) software, but may occasionally
include paper documents, photographic film, computer software on CD, and
other physical media. Groups within and outside your company rely entirely
on the accuracy and completeness of your engineering drawing package to
efficiently realize your design intent.
Engineering drawing control requirements
Since the engineering drawing package forms the foundation of a company's
intellectual property, the contents of the engineering drawing package must be
cataloged, and changes to each engineering drawing must be identified, reviewed,
approved and distributed to affected personnel.
While engineering drawing practice has been defined by early standards such as
DOD-STD-100 and later by the ASME Y14 standards, these simply specify the
engineering drawing content, and not its management and control. However,
managing the engineering drawing package throughout a product's life cycle is a
major challenge for companies facing rapidly-changing market conditions, a
fluid supply
chain, and new regulatory requirements. Accurate, up-to-date information is
crucial to a correctly manufactured product.
An engineering drawing that can't be identified correctly, or has unapproved
content, or has simply "gone missing" can't contribute to the quality of a
product.
On the other hand, an engineering drawing package that is identifiable,
searchable, reviewable, and immediately available significantly reduces product
costs by simplifying design, procurement, manufacturing, customer training and
field service. PDXpert PLM software provides these exact benefits.
Engineering drawing management functions
A complete engineering drawing management software environment encompasses a
combination of capabilities and processes.
Engineering drawing management capabilities should include efficient methods for
creating design document and part data records, managing assembly structures,
storing electronic file attachments, and processing engineering change forms.
Engineering drawing management processes include business rules that define
which document and part types are supported, how item numbers are assigned, how
drawings are revised, who approves changes to part & drawing revisions, the
conditions under which parts are qualified for use, and a host of other details.
Engineering drawing management with PDXpert PLM software
PDXpert PLM software provides a comprehensive set of engineering drawing
management capabilities that in-house document control solutions can't match.
From electronic file management in a centralized data library to change workflow
that encourages detailed design reviews, PDXpert PLM software solves many of the
document control challenges that face growing companies.
PDXpert PLM software provides these engineering drawing management capabilities:
- fast, attribute-driven engineering drawing and part record searches
- content searches of common file types such as Word, Excel, and PDF
- rules-based item number assignment, which support both intelligent part number
and tabulated drawing schemes
- flexible item revision rules, including optional pre- and post-production
formats
- pre-defined part and drawing types with default attributes
- drag-and-drop object construction for quickly building assemblies
- engineering drawing, part, BOM and design file release management with approval
workflow
These functions translate directly into real benefits including increased
sales revenue through faster product releases; lower product costs by using the
most current engineering drawings and parts; and lower administrative overhead
by providing important supporting information (like cost and material roll-ups)
automatically.
PDXpert PLM software: Beyond engineering drawing management
As engineering departments' requirements have expanded, engineering drawing
management solutions have become more sophisticated. Product lifecycle
management software is the evolutionary descendant of simple "engineering
drawing control" software.
PDXpert PLM software provides the necessary engineering drawing management
capabilities and, equally important, automates and enforces the many processes
necessary for good engineering data management. And, PDXpert PLM software goes
beyond just engineering document control by including the functions essential
for managing the complete product design life cycle, such as part records, bills
of materials, engineering changes, materials management.
Learn more about how PDXpert PLM manages your engineering drawings
PDXpert PLM has been specifically designed for smaller organizations making the
transition from ad hoc product data management.
Product lifecycle management improves your engineering
data availability and security, while reducing its cost. For the complete
story, view our video presentation
"Why
PLM? Managing product data to improve financial performance".