Comprehending the Difference Between PLM and PDM
                     Comprehending the
 Difference Betwee
n 
PLM and PDM
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Many people think PLM and PDM are the same 
thing, but that is not at all the case. To help you 
understand which solution is right for your needs. 
PLM, or Product Lifecycle Management, 
encompasses all facets of a product's journey, 
starting from the design phase and extending 
through production, sales, service needs, and 
eventual retirement. It serves as a unified tool and 
central repository that integrates business 
processes, software systems, people, data, and 
corporate policies, acting as the foundational 
information hub for a company and its extensive 
swuwppwly. 3chatiin. cnoetwork. 
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PLM manages every aspect of the product from inception all the way to 
disposal.
PDM, or Product Data Management, focuses on data management. PDM tools 
primarily handle version control and technical specifications, guaranteeing 
that engineers and relevant parties have access to the correct versions and 
specifications.
PDM manages all of the data associated with a product.
Virtually every widely recognized definition of these two solutions categorizes 
PDM as a component within the broader scope of PLM. Consequently, 
investing in a standalone PDM system could potentially deprive your 
company.
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PURPOSE
PDM serves as an engineering-focused tool, whereas PLM is an 
enterprise-wide system, comparable in significance to a company's 
ERP, CRM, or MES solutions. PLM encompasses and collaborates with 
each of these enterprise solutions, functioning optimally when 
integrated as the central repository for shared data. In simpler 
terms, PLM represents a strategic business approach aimed at 
optimizing product profitability throughout its lifecycle by providing 
a structured framework for innovation, product introduction, and 
end-of-life planning. In summary, PDM serves as an engineering 
specific tool, while PLM operates as a holistic enterprise 
management system. 
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ORGANIZATION USAGE
We’ve already established that PDM is an engineering tool, while PLM 
is useful for every stakeholder in the extended enterprise. In fact, 
PLM can be shared and used by manufacturing, procurement, supply 
chain, tooling, prototyping, service and support personnel. By 
looking deeper into the stages of a product lifecycle, we can see the 
truth in this statement.
THE PDM 
P•RIOnitCiaEl SS • Release to 
Design Manufacturing 
• Prototyping • ECN Process
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INITIAL DESIGN
Engineering does the design, and no other departments have access to the 
information or the ability to use it in accomplishing their own tasks. In most 
cases, even most design review processing and approvals will have to be done 
outside of the PDM solution.
PROTOTYPING
With PDM, prototyping is done on an ad hoc basis, with either no formal process 
or an offline process. 
RELEASE TO MANUFACTURING
Release is accomplished through sharing CAD files or prints. Manufacturing 
enters items and BOM information into ERP or another enterprise solution, 
although sometimes this can be done using a custom interface. 
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ECN PROCESS
This is a paper process with multiple departments adding handwritten signature 
approvals to marked-up drawing packets. After the final approval — which often 
occurs in a meeting — engineering changes the drawings and releases them to 
manufacturing. Only now can manufacturing start applying changes. 
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ADVANTAGS OF PLM
Clearly, PLM is a more comprehensive solution. 
• PLM offers more streamlined initial design and ECN processes, helping to 
reduce time to market. Designs are visible throughout the organization, and 
the increased visibility helps to increase the probability of reusing designs. 
• Designs are visible throughout the organization, and the increased visibility 
helps to increase the probability of reusing designs. 
• Reusing designs helps reduce the required inventory investment and improves 
manufacturing productivity and efficiency.
• PLM helps prevent costly manufacturing mistakes by ensuring that 
manufacturing documentation is always up to date.
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HOW TO CHOOSE PDM AND PLM
If you have questions about whether you need a PLM or PDM solution, you 
should talk to an expert about the advantages of each choice in your specific 
situation. 3HTi has a full team of PLM and PDM experts on staff, and we sell 
and support most of the major software applications in the space. 
Contact us today to learn how you can benefit from an investment in PLM. 
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GET MORE INFORMATION
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