A Survey of PDM Implementation Projects in Selected Swedish Industries

Abstract

Abstract Technology and engineering might be characterized as becoming more knowledge-intensive. A huge amount of data is used and produced in most product development projects. Increasing competition requires shorter reaction time to customer demands and a higher level of innovation. Concurrent Engineering (CE) is a strategic response to competition. It has proved to be a powerful approach to integrating engineering activities in product development. However, integration and parallel activities, that is the essence of CE, add complexity to the process. Consequently, information management is recognized as a major component in many CE models. Product Data Management (PDM) systems are a class of computer based systems that address the need to manage product related information that is mainly formal and computer interpretable. PDM systems are sometimes referred to as CE enablers. Results from a resent survey of PDM implementation projects in six Swedish industrial companies, with products ranging from telecommunications systems to trucks and medical equipment, indicate the importance of also utilizing the Concurrent Engineering (CE) approach in the process of implementing an enterprise-wide PDM solution.