Custom PDM system development
Are your engineering files scattered across local folders, shared drives and email? With a custom Product Data Management system, you manage CAD models, bills of materials and technical documents from one central location. Appfront designs and builds PDM software that integrates seamlessly with your CAD package and ERP system.
Why a custom PDM system?
A Product Data Management (PDM) system brings order to the chaos of engineering data. Without a central system, teams work with outdated revisions, files get lost when staff leave, and finding the right drawing takes longer than amending it.
Off-the-shelf PDM packages such as SOLIDWORKS PDM or Teamcenter cover the basics, but they force you into a fixed way of working. A custom PDM system works the other way round: the system adapts to your processes, not the reverse. You decide which metadata to track, which approval steps are needed and how revisions flow through the organisation.
Typical result: engineering teams that switch to a custom PDM system cut the time spent searching for files by 40–60% and virtually eliminate errors caused by outdated revisions.
Core PDM system functionality
Central file management
All CAD models, drawings, specifications and technical documents stored in one secure vault. Check-in/check-out prevents two engineers from changing the same file at once. Automatic version control records every change, including who made it and when.
Bill of materials and component management (BOM)
Generate Bills of Materials directly from your CAD assemblies. The PDM system tracks relationships between components, assemblies and drawings. If you change a component, you immediately see which assemblies and products are affected, before you implement the change.
Workflow automation
From concept through review to production release: define approval workflows that suit your organisation. Automatic notifications, digital signatures and escalation paths speed up the release process without compromising quality control.
Search and metadata
Full-text search across file names, custom attributes, material specifications and project codes. Filters on status, revision number, creation date or owner help you find the right document within seconds, even in a vault holding tens of thousands of files.
CAD integrations: seamlessly connected to your design environment
The heart of any PDM system is its integration with your CAD software. We build integrations that go beyond simple file management: check-in/check-out from the CAD interface, automatic thumbnail generation, and real-time status updates so your engineers can keep working in their familiar environment.
Our experience spans the most widely used CAD platforms:
- SOLIDWORKS: native integration via the SOLIDWORKS API, including a PDM add-in for seamless check-in and check-out
- AutoCAD and Inventor: custom Autodesk Vault-style functionality, with DWG version control
- Fusion 360: cloud-native sync between Fusion projects and your on-premise vault
- CATIA and Siemens NX: enterprise integrations for complex product development projects
- PTC Creo — PDM solutions that replace Windchill, with custom workflows
- Rhino3D and SketchUp Pro: lightweight integration for design studios and architects
ERP and business system integrations
A PDM system that runs in isolation loses half its value. By linking your product data to ERP, procurement and production, the bill of materials created in engineering automatically becomes the basis for purchase orders, cost calculations and production planning.
Integrations we regularly build:
- SAP: PLM module integration, BOM synchronisation, material management
- Microsoft Dynamics 365: bidirectional sync of items, bills of materials and engineering changes
- Exact Online: item master data and inventory integration
- AFAS: product data and project administration
- Odoo: manufacturing module with BOM import from PDM
- Custom ERP systems via middleware development
Integration approach: we prefer to build API-first integrations with event-driven synchronisation. This means changes in the PDM system flow straight into your ERP, with no overnight batch imports or manual exports.
How we build a PDM system: from analysis to go-live
Step 1: Engineering process analysis
We map out your current way of working: which CAD packages you use, how teams manage files today, and where the bottlenecks lie in revision management and approvals. This produces a functional design that describes exactly what the PDM system needs to do.
Step 2: Architecture and interface design
Based on the analysis, we design the system architecture: database structure, integration strategy for CAD and ERP, and the user interface. For the interface design, we involve engineers from your team. They will work with the system every day, and their feedback is decisive for adoption.
Step 3: Iterative development
We build the PDM system in two-week sprints, with working demos after each sprint. First the core functionality (vault, version control, CAD integration), then workflow automation, BOM management and ERP integration. This way you can test with real files early in the project.
Step 4: Migration, training and go-live
We migrate your existing CAD data, including file history, folder structures and metadata. Rollout is phased: first a pilot group, then wider teams. User training is available on-site or remotely, plus technical documentation for your IT department.
Benefits of a custom PDM system
Engineering efficiency
- 40–60% less time spent searching for the correct file version
- No duplicated work caused by outdated revisions: the system always shows the latest released version
- Automatic BOM generation saves manual retyping and prevents errors
- Digital approval workflows shorten turnaround times from weeks to days
Data security and compliance
- A central backup and disaster recovery system for all your engineering data
- Role-based access control: per project, department or individual
- Complete audit trail of all changes, essential for ISO 9001 certification
- IP protection through encryption and watermarking options on technical drawings
Scalability
- Cloud-ready architecture for remote engineering teams and multiple sites
- Offline working mode with automatic synchronisation once you reconnect
- Modular design: start with the core and expand as your organisation grows
Frequently asked questions about PDM systems
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