The PDM business need
Over the last decade, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems have provided companies with the means to manage their processes. Often though, the implementation of ERP systems has neglected one of the most important requirements for modern companies - the need to manage information as well as processes.

Typically, organisations use Product Data Management to solve information management problems such as:
• Working within a global extended enterprise
• Managing greater product complexity and innovation
• Reducing lifecycle cost
• Improving versioning & configuration control
• Managing information within a rapidly changing process
• Utilising the internet for sales to manufacture links
• Using virtual technology
• Outsourcing of Software delivery

Thus PDM covers a broad spectrum, but across industries common drivers are:
• Oil & Gas Process industries - Lifecycle support of massively expensive "one-off" products to cut cost and extend operating life of asset
• Automotive industry - Digital Mock-Up leading to full product and Process Simulation to cut cost and lead time and have greater manufacturing flexibility
• Pharmaceutical - Managing products, clinical study data and archival data
• Aerospace/military industry - Reducing cost of handling and integrating product data, technical documentation and logistics

Typical aspects of PDM solutions
The modern PDM system provides companies with the ability to manage their entire product range as a whole, whilst providing all the detailed information which is required by companies today. The information is structured, and often based on standards such as XML, STEP, UML, CORBA and EXPRESS. PDM systems provide possibilities for enterprise integration which stretch well beyond accepted concepts of concurrent engineering. Web-based PDM solutions provide a mechanism for secure sharing of engineering data across a distributed project environment - managing and enabling the supply chain. Typical functionality is shown below.

Given the breadth of functionality PDM systems can offer the use of PDM has grown out of it's tradition area of Product Structure Management. PDM systems can be include some functionality that use to be considered the domain of Sale Configuration, Virtual Mock-up and Manufacturing planning.

Thus it is critical to understand the purpose of PDM within a company and to understand the requirements for the information and processes it is to manage.