PDM concept

The figure below shows the relationship between PDM system, CAD/CAM/CAE systems, users, and computer data.

Users Users can include almost everyone in a enterprise. Typical examples are:

design engineers

manufacturing engineers

managers

clerical staffs

Encapsulated applications The examples are CAD/CAM/CAE systems, word processors applications, and spreadsheets applications.

Database A collection of data that is shared throughout the enterprise and used for multiple purposes.

Physical data

The examples are CAD models, CAM/CAE data, word documents and spreadsheet documents.

Physical data files are stored in file system.

May or may not be encrypted.

Storage requirement can be as large as 10Gb.

See here.

Meta-data

The information about the physical data controlled by the PDM system.

Meta-data are stored in database table.

The examples are part number, quantity, date created, date modified, and description.

The storage requirement may probably be 10Mb.

PDM Elements

It is hard to define the exact functionality of PDM system. However, there are some "PDM elements" which are now becoming generally accepted as the standard functions which an PDM system should be capable of supporting. These PDM elements include:

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Users	Users can include almost everyone in a enterprise. Typical examples are: design engineers manufacturing engineers managers clerical staffs
Encapsulated applications	The examples are CAD/CAM/CAE systems, word processors applications, and spreadsheets applications.
Database	A collection of data that is shared throughout the enterprise and used for multiple purposes.
Physical data	The examples are CAD models, CAM/CAE data, word documents and spreadsheet documents. Physical data files are stored in file system. May or may not be encrypted. Storage requirement can be as large as 10Gb. See here.
Meta-data	The information about the physical data controlled by the PDM system. Meta-data are stored in database table. The examples are part number, quantity, date created, date modified, and description. The storage requirement may probably be 10Mb.