The distinction between the two systems can be explained directly by their acronyms:
A PDM system is the tool that supports specific phases of product development—typically those related to design, technical data management, including drawings and all associated documentation.
PDM primarily integrates with the company’s CAD software system, optimizing and streamlining not only design functions but also the creation of master data codes and the management of Technical Bills of Material (BOMs). In practice, PDM certainly helps optimize certain phases of the overall project/order management process, thereby improving the company’s general productivity indexes.
In addition to including the typical functionalities of PDM software, PLM offers a set of functionalities that ensure the complete management of the entire product lifecycle, supporting all company departments involved in project/order management with data handling. Information is made available to all departments, and processes are automated.
PLM systems normally include Process Management and Project Management functionalities with the goal of maintaining real-time control over corporate operations.
In conclusion, a PLM system certainly contains a PDM system within it, but it also features additional functionalities that make it the enterprise application platform enabling the perfect integration between software tools, people, and processes.
Our answer to this question is Documenta: a PDM/PLM software structured in a modular way that allows companies a scalable approach.
It is possible to introduce Documenta Standard (PDM) with the goal of optimizing technical data management processes, and subsequently upgrade the system to Documenta PLM, which includes high-performance Process and Project Management functionalities.
This means not only effective integration with CAD, MS-Office, and various ERP systems, along with the best interpretation of the “PDM” function set, but also a powerful manager of procedural workflows to support the correct execution and temporal planning of corporate macro-activities, ensuring the controlled involvement of users across all departments. Documenta PLM is the scalable solution that optimizes industrial processes with the best parameters for productivity and margin.
Attention: simply equipping the company with PDM/PLM software is not enough to achieve your objectives! You also need the right partner to implement the project!
A PDM/PLM project actually has two main components: the quality software tool and the correct strategy for deploying the available functionalities. And as we know, the correct strategy is often a result of experience.
Documenta has been effectively developing and implementing PDM/PLM systems for almost 30 years, providing a guarantee of success for companies looking to adopt these systems.
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