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This is the second part of this series. If you want to read part 1, go here!
One of the biggest hurdles engineers face is dealing with data silos. PDM systems are great for managing CAD files and design data, PLM systems focus on the entire product lifecycle, and ERP systems handle business processes like procurement and inventory. However, when these systems don’t integrate properly, engineers often have to manually transfer data between them. This creates a lot of extra work and increases the risk of errors. For instance, changes to a design in the PDM system might not be reflected in the PLM or ERP systems, leading to outdated or conflicting information. These silos slow down decision-making and make it hard for teams to stay aligned.
When systems don’t talk to each other, engineers and other team members often have to enter the same data multiple times—once in the PDM, again in the PLM, and maybe even in the ERP. This repetitive process isn’t just inefficient; it’s also a breeding ground for mistakes. A single typo or oversight can propagate through all three systems, causing confusion and potentially derailing a project. The time spent on redundant data entry could be better spent on higher-value tasks like improving designs or optimizing workflows.
Change management is a critical process in engineering, but it becomes much more complicated when systems aren’t well-integrated. A design change approved in the PDM system might not automatically trigger updates in the PLM or ERP systems. This can lead to delays in implementing changes, miscommunication between teams, and even production using the wrong specifications. Engineers often have to manually track and communicate changes across systems, which is not only inefficient but also increases the risk of errors slipping through the cracks.
Similar to managing BOMs, having a digital thread across systems is crucial. Focus on procuring systems that have integrations with your existing toolset. Newer solutions provide access to APIs that can be leveraged to manage data between systems. Also focus on standardizing processes and data structures to create consistency around version control and change management. Notification systems can help cross-functional teams that may not have access to one system to quickly get notified on changes and perform appropriate next steps. And lastly, think of adopting a “single source of truth” approach, where all critical data is centralized and easily accessible. This will minimize confusion and boost collaboration across teams and departments.
At Bild, we’ve worked on structuring CAD data to be transformed into a composable dataset for downstream integration. Leverage Bild to automatically sync released data into ERP systems or your PLM system. With Bild, engineers do not need to repackage designs into PDFs and STEP formats before sending downstream. Bild automatically generates native file formats and knows how to appropriately send data into PLM and ERP data structures. Leverage one of the many out-of-the-box integrations or Bild’s open API access to configure a digital thread across your systems of record.
Managing design revisions is another significant challenge for engineers who lack a PDM system. Without proper version control, engineers often save multiple file copies on local drives or shared folders, leading to confusion over which version is the latest. Tracking who made changes, when they were made, and why becomes nearly impossible without a structured system. This lack of clarity can result in teams working on outdated files, causing errors and misalignment in designs. Engineers may spend hours resolving version conflicts or recreating lost work. In complex projects, the inability to effectively track revisions can lead to significant project delays and frustration among team members.
File organization and retrieval also become a daily struggle for mechanical engineers. Files are often scattered across local drives, shared network folders, or email threads, making it difficult to locate the correct design quickly. Engineers waste valuable time searching for files. This disorganized approach not only slows down workflows but also increases the likelihood of critical design errors. Furthermore, the lack of a centralized repository hampers collaboration and makes it challenging for new team members to access historical data. A PDM system’s centralized file management capabilities are essential for overcoming these inefficiencies.
Honestly, get a PDM system. Data management for CAD designs is challenging without one. A PDM system puts together design files with version history and information. Most PDM systems will provide a clear understanding of version history, an easy way to access the latest version, and rollbacks. Finding data through a robust search tool makes information retrieval faster and brings confidence to designers.
But just having a PDM system without the right processes does not help. Have disciplined file naming conventions and organizing files in a consistent, logical folder structure. Teams should aim to implement a cloud based PDM system, providing engineers access to designs anywhere and anything. Configure your PDM system with workflows that make sense to your specific team’s needs. Need to ensure that designs need to go through an approval process before getting released? Want to make sure released files are locked? Want to enforce change orders? These provisions enable teams to easily manage versions and files and standardize processes across the organization.
Most PDM systems require a decent amount of customization, which ends up being costly and time consuming. We’ve covered this in other sections, but are reiterating the challenges legacy PDM systems have. With Bild, file tune your processes with a click of a button. Set up provisions and customize your workflows with easy-to-use toggles and administrative settings. With Bild, you don’t need a PDM administrator and days of training and downtime. Bild offers an intuitive, scalable solution that makes file management run on auto-pilot, making engineering efforts go to, well, real engineering.