An objective approach for identifying the strategic components of a PDM system
| Pages | 56-67 |
| Date | 01 January 2004 |
| Published date | 01 January 2004 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02635570410514098 |
| Author | Rajeev Kumar,P.S. Midha |
| Subject Matter | Economics,Information & knowledge management,Management science & operations |
An objective approach
for identifying the
strategic components of
a PDM system
Rajeev Kumar and
P.S. Midha
Introduction
Product data management (PDM) systems
have been around since the early 1980s. They
have evolved over the years from managing
CAD files within a workgroup, to managing the
product data as well as the product
development process across the whole
enterprise. PDM began with manual control of
papers. The present day PDM systems provide
a secure repository of product design and
product data, and a structured workflow for
managing the product design through its
lifecycle (Philpotts, 1996). A PDM system is a
tool that enables engineers as well as others to
manage both engineering data and the product
development process. The term engineering
data includes Bill of Materials, engineering
drawings, technical specifications, project
plans, process plans, test results, video data,
etc. PDM supports the product development
process by providing facilities for change
management, workflow, etc. It helps provide
the right data to the right people at the right
time (Attaran, 1997).
With the widespread use of Internet
technologies, PDM systems have evolved to
incorporate the advantages offered by the
simplicity in use and effectiveness in sharing of
data through the use of the World Wide Web.
Increasingly the terms CPC (collaborative
product commerce) and cPDM (collaborative
product definition management) are also being
used in place of PDM. According to the
Aberdeen Group:
Collaborative product commerce defines a class of
software and services that use Internet
technologies ± no matter what role they have in the
commercialisation of a product, no matter what
computer-based tools they use, no matter where
they are located geographically or within the
supply net ± to collaboratively develop, build, and
manage products throughout their entire lifecycle
(Aberdeen Group, 1999).
Cimdata Inc defines cPDM:
... as a strategic business approach; applying
consistent set of business solutions to
collaboratively manage the product definition
lifecycle across the extended enterprise (Cimdata
Inc, n.d.).
In both the definitions the main emphasis is on
the word collaboration. With an increased
adoption of collaborative product development
The authors
Rajeev Kumar is a Researcher and P.S. Midha is a Reader,
both at the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
Keywords
Product data management, Quality function deployment
Abstract
This paper proposes an expert system that incorporates QFD
(quality function deployment) methodology for the
identification of the strategic components of a company for
a PDM (product data management) system. A PDM system
helps a company in carrying out its collaborative product
development activities by providing a platform, through
which information can be shared. It also helps in managing
the different activities involved in the product development
process. The use of QFD methodology in an expert system
rationalises the process of identifying the strategic
components of a PDM system for a successful collaborative
product development strategy. In the proposed approach
the PDM requirements are directly correlated with the
PDM functions. This helps in prioritising the
PDM components/functions and in providing a transparent
way of understanding the correlation between the PDM
requirements and the PDM components/functions. The use
of expert system overcomes the complexities associated
with QFD methodology.
Electronic access
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56
Industrial Management & Data Systems
Volume 104 .Number 1 .2004 .pp. 56-67
#Emerald Group Publishing Limited .ISSN 0263-5577
DOI 10.1108/02635570410514098
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