PDM vs. CPC vs. PLM

Product Data Management; PDM, Product Lifecycle Management; PLM, Collaborative Product Commerce; CPC are all terms that have been used to describe a variety of customer initiatives. Each of these terms however represents a particular scope of initiative that will be described below.

Product Data management ( PDM )
A Product Data Management ( PDM ) initiative is executed to automate what are largely engineering administration tasks i.e., looking up a part, capturing the part data, creating an association in structure, associating documents to parts, accessing/distributing documents, passing part data from CAD to ERP, passing BoM data to ERP, administering change, etc. - administrative functions.

The most successful PDM projects occur when sufficient up front work is done to select a PDM technology that can be implemented right out of the box with only minor extensions (modify JSP pages, create workflow's, etc) and no customizations. Many customers make extensive customizations to PDM technology failing to remember that PDM systems only automate Engineering Administration tasks. The PDM applications have matured sufficiently to date and can now be considered to provide generally accepted capability for servicing your Engineering Administration activities. So the question is, what is the measurable value in creating mass customizations?

Collaborative Product Commerce ( CPC )
A Collaborative Product Commerce initiative typically includes PDM but places an emphasis on your ability to collaborate with business partners (customers, design contractors, vendors) using web based view and mark up tools in collaborative sessions. Collaboration with partners requires that you conduct some fairly comprehensive process design work to integrate your process(es) with theirs. This will include integration of your internal private process, the external public process and the external private processes at your partner sites. Additionally, more extensive evaluation and design of data/document control and security is required to conduct a CPC initiative.

Product Lifecycle Management ( PLM )
A PLM initiative is targeted at systemically improving engineering operations to increase competitive advantage. The objective being to drive revenue in to the business and better enable the sales and marketing functions – the other most important core competencies.

A PLM initiative can affect changes to the following processes:

Proposal Engineering (for ETO products)
Requirements Management
Design Engineering
Design Validation
Manufacturing Engineering
Release to Manufacturing
Serviceability Engineering
Product Launch
Integration to Outsource Manufacturer Processes
Integration to Preferred Supplier’s Processes
Integration to Preferred Customer’s Processes

The reengineering and automation work that is typically conducted in each of the process activities listed above will drive changes to the following:

Policy & Procedure
Job Descriptions and perhaps Organizational Structures
Management & Measurement Techniques
Values & Beliefs

Related Technologies i.e., PDM, CAD, CAE, KBE, ERP, Vendor/Customer Portals, Project Management tools and Time Reporting systems

Now then, the question is which type initiative is best suited for you. The answer depends upon several key factors including but not limited to the following:

Strategic Objectives
State of the Art in your Product Development Practice
Financial Where with all
Your real ability to support the initiative

Many organizations start out with a PDM initiative, move to CPC in subsequent phases and eventually attack the PLM initiative. Note: The largest return on investment will be secured through a PLM initiative. The important thing to remember is that PDM is a technology initiative, CPC is a technology/process integration initiative and PLM is a process initiative whose process designs are better enabled through the use of PDM, CPC, CAD, KBE, ERP and web based tools.