PDMS software or PLM software: what's the difference?
The
terms product data management system ("PDMS") and product
lifecycle management ("PLM") are often used interchangeably and the best
PLM software has evolved directly from earlier PDMS software designs. (In fact,
we introduced our first PDMS software in 1994.)
Let's explore the similarities and differences between PDMS software and PLM
software.
PDMS software features
Although a few so-called PDMS software solutions remain little more than CAD
file managers, most PDMS software includes these essential product data management
functions:
- design documentation identification and revision control
- electronic data library for CAD files
- physical part attribute records
- supplier source records
- bill of materials management
- engineering change control with workflow
So, maybe PDMS software is the same as PLM software...
PDMS software: It's similar to PLM software
PDMS software and PLM software are designed to maintain a complete product history.
Both PDMS software and PLM software centralize and manage the "who, what, when,
why, how, at what cost" evolution of product data, while ERP or CAD systems narrowly
focus on the "right here and right now" view.
PDMS software and PLM software are designed to maintain a complete product history.
Both PDMS software and PLM software centralize and manage the "who, what, when,
why, how, at what cost" evolution of product data, while ERP or CAD systems narrowly
focus on the "right here and right now" view.
But, most PDMS software also misses a few things...
PDMS software: It's different from PLM software
PDMS software focuses primarily on engineering tasks, primarily the design release
and change cycle, and doesn't offer a complete data view over the entire product
life cycle.
Since PDMS software is often acquired to manage engineering data, PDMS software
frequently makes assumptions that limits its wider application. PDMS software is
generally weak in accommodating non-technical documents (such as marketing requirements)
and physical item records (such as sales brochures) or post-sales documentation
and spares inventory affecting product support, service, and disposal. At least
one PDMS software application, for instance, defined a fixed number of unique change
forms, so all departments were forced to share a pre-defined number of engineering-
and manufacturing-related change processes.
Since PDMS software assumes an engineering user base, even simple functions can
be cumbersome. For example, item search in PDMS software often requires an understanding
of Boolean logic as well as how item attributes are stored and indexed in the PDMS
database — certainly not a detail that the average marketing manager or purchasing
agent should need to learn.
PDMS software simply doesn't offer PLM's comprehensive view of the data that
should be managed as part of your product's life cycle. And, PDMS data is typically
locked in a user interface that non-technical users may find too complex for their
own product data management needs.
The best PDMS software isn't just PDMS software — it's PDXpert PLM
While PDXpert PLM software provides product data management system capabilities,
its capabilities exceed even the best PDMS software. Unlike PDMS software, PDXpert
PLM software supports the complete product life cycle with:
- Flexible document & part types that permit unique naming
and identification outside the engineering department
- Superior Google-like free-form text search that allows
non-technical users easy access to their own documents and parts
- Virtually unlimited change forms and change workflows that
can be uniquely tailored to a specific department's needs, so that upstream
(marketing) and downstream (customer support, field service) organizations can
manage their part of the product life cycle using their own change processes.
- Materials identification and reporting for simple and cost-effective
RoHS/WEEE/ELV regulatory compliance in product maintenance and repair, hazardous
material handling and product disposal.
- Document and part dispositioning to clearly communicate
how items throughout the supply and distribution chains will be affected by
pending changes.
PDXpert PLM software eclipses older PDMS software by ensuring that your
entire product data history, from product definition to product retirement, is captured
and maintained by all groups within your organization.
Discover the better PDMS software alternative: PDXpert PLM
We invite you to:
Get a free PDMS download, and a lot more: PDXpert PLM fully-functional trial
software.