Ethiopian Institute of Textile

Bahir Dar University and Fashion Technology

Web-enabled Product Data Management

The role of Product Data Management (PDM) in

engineering design and the key differences between PDM
and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM); (article review)

Merja Huhtala, Mika Lohtander, and Juha Varis

Mechanical Engineering Lappeenranta University of

Technology Lappeenranta, 53850, Finland

MSc 1st year fashion technology

Course Manager: Gebeyehu B. (Dr. of Eng.) Asst.

Professor

Submitted by: Temesgen Agazhie

August, 2020
 Abstract
Product data management (PDM) is the technology and associated software systems that
support the management of both engineering data and process information during the product
development phase and beyond in one central location. PDM is a subset of a larger concept of
product lifecycle management (PLM). In this paper review the author take a closer look at
PDM (Product Data Management) which is one of the most important systems in today’s
industry. Every day designers produce huge amounts of information, including drawings and
related datasheets. This information has to be saved in a specific place where it is easy to find
and modify. To facilitate this, PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) has increased its benefit
to companies. Spare part selling has become an important factor for companies. The author
try to discuss in the case of spare parts, the PDM should work as it is, because if the PDM is
does not worked well the PLM also does not work and tracking of old products may even be
impossible. Due to this case it is difficult to increase selling spare parts. And the author try to
address knowing how the PDM system should work and what kind of information is possible
to add to the system are the key elements for success. The literature search was done using a
Meta search via the data bases of LUT's (Lappeenranta University of Technology) library.
The search was not limited to certain database(s), nor was a year criterion set up. The reason
for this was that the author wanted to see what kind of development the PDM systems have
gone through during the decades. The idea was also to find out what has been written and
what the future trends and expectations for the PDM system have been.

Introduction
As aforementioned PDM (Product Data Management) is not actually software; therefore it
should be called a system. This system handles the created information during the designing
process. PDM is nowadays the most important software in the industry, along with PLM
(Product Lifecycle Management). These two terms are commonly used synonymously
although they are two different systems. There is a difficulty to say where the distinct line
between these two systems lies and even in some cases PDM is used in a similar manner to
PLM. However, normally PLM focuses on the whole lifecycle of a product and PDM is a
storage location for all the information that is related to the product. [1]

1
First PDM started in the early 1980s, in that time there is a lack of computers, PDM was
operated manually and designers managed the drawings and data sheets by hand. After the
increasing access to computers and designing programs, PDM was linked to these designing
systems called computer assisted exercise (CAx). In the middle of the 1990s PDM had a
strong foothold in the field of engineering. Of course, after this there has been development
in the software itself, and the usability of PDM and CAD software’s are much improved from
the early days. When companies recognized the benefits of a PDM system they started to add
more supportive systems to the PDM, such as tools which control the manufacturing process
itself. When companies also noticed that the spare part service was such an enormous
business, PLM was added to the PDM to control the lifecycle and make the product related
data easier to find at different stages of the company’s production. [2]

The first PDM systems were file-based systems, due to that all the documents kept in a
certain folder. That was subjective to the persons who were saved, this leads to bulkiness the
arrangement of the file relied on the users. If the user saved the document on the wrong folder
it was difficult to find it again and it will time consuming. After some development the PDM
systems started to be item-based systems (although in very small companies the file-based
systems are still being used). In item-based systems everything relies on a certain part being
identified. When the designer opens the information on the part, all the necessary datasheets
should be available simultaneously. All these items should be easy to find with the help of the
name and the item number. [3]

Conclusion
It can be said that the whole purpose of the PDM system is to manage the activities of the
product during its lifecycle. Managing activities means that the system has to be flexible so
that it is easy to use, that the information is easy to find, and that making changes is easy.
However, the reason why the PDM system should be purchased and included in the
company’s strategy is that with the help of PDM: the productivity can be improved, people
can have better access to information, and it is easier to manage data, which is related to
different kinds of products. As the picture down below shows their difference and their
interdepend ability in the information between them that means PDM support PLM and PLM
support PDM.

2
As Könst et al [3] states that the term PDM by defining the individual letter. When discussing
the PDM system the letter P stands for the product. The product should be the centerpiece
and all the information collected around it. All product-related information should be
available and added to the PDM system and this information should also be relevant. The
letter D is for data and denotes all the information related to the product, which has to be up
to date, otherwise the designing process, and of course the manufacturing process, may be
impossible to complete. Additionally, the data is all the information that is created during the
product development process. The final letter is M (management), the main implication of
which is control. Control means controlling both the data and the product. [3]

Reference
1. Huhtala, M. & Lohtander M. & Varis, J. Confusing of terms PDM and PLM:
examining ssues from the PDM point of view. The 22nd International Conference on
Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing (FAIM 2012). Ferry Cruise
Conference Helsinki-Stockholm-Helsinki 10-13 June 2012.
2. Moorthy, ABG. and Vivekanand, S. Integration of PLM with other concepts for
empowering business environments. Product Lifecycle Management. Assessing the
industrial relevance, PLM’07. Italy. 2007. Pp. 93-106
3. Könst, J.S. & la Fontaine, J. P. & Hoogeboom, M. G. R. Product Data Management –
A Strategic Perspective. Maj Engineering Publishing. 2009. 103 p.