PDXpert PLM Software
Product Lifecycle Management
Both PDM software and PLM software are designed to maintain a complete product evolution. PLM software centralizes and controls the "who, what, when, why, how, at what cost" history of product data, while CAD+PDM systems focus on the "right here and right now" view.
Originally, engineering data was relatively simple: design files, parts lists and specifications. At the time, engineering data management software (EDMS) and later PDM allowed users to organize their product data, and apply rules for item identification and revision control. An associated electronic data library contained 2D CAD files and other design files.
With added complexity in product design, engineering data management has now evolved into two separate solutions:
- Product data management is, along with a CAD tool, an engineering "authoring environment". The basic design object is a CAD file. The PDM assists in the creation and storage of related files — a CAD model — in hierarchical (real or virtual) folders.
- Product lifecycle management is a cross-organizational tool for collecting, controlling and publishing approved product configurations. In PLM, part and document objects are represented in a database, and managed by change forms. Unlike PDM, part and document records exist independently of files.
PDM software focuses primarily on engineering tasks, specifically the design release and change cycle, and doesn't offer a complete data view over the entire product life cycle.
Since PDM software is often acquired to manage technical design data, PDM software frequently makes assumptions that limit its wider application. PDM 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 PDM software application, for instance, defines a limited number of unique change forms, so all departments are forced to share a fixed set of design- and production-related change processes.
Because PDM software often assumes users are engineers, even simple capabilities can be too "techy". For example, item search in PDM software often requires an understanding of how item attributes are stored and indexed in the PDM database as well as Boolean logic syntax - certainly not a benefit to the average marketing manager or purchasing agent.
PDM software doesn't provide PLM's comprehensive view of the information that should be managed as part of your product's life cycle. And, PDM data is typically locked in a user interface that non-technical users may find too complex for their own product data management needs.
There is no known way to handle the complex interrelationship between parts without access to a well designed Product Data Management system. A PLM system is even more useful!
PDXpert PLM software supports your 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 workflowsthat 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 PDM 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.
PLM software is most efficient and cost-effective when it's been designed for its intended environment. So, we've optimized PDXpert software to meet the specific requirements of growing companies.
- What you see is what you get: easy-to-understand product features
- No artificial "web demo", but afree, fully-functional PLM evaluation system that you can download and try out using your company's own product data, rules and workflow
- Published prices and discounts
- Convenient, flexible licenses: perpetual or subscription
- Friendly, honest advice on how PDXpert PLM software will work in your application, without a sales pitch
- Configuration, legacy data conversion and training servicesonly when you need them
- Straight-forward user interfacefor easy administration and fast user learning
- Mainstream hardware and software requirements make installation and on-going support simple