MRP was born, but it slowly died with the birth of ERP.
When does PDM birth? What environment is born? different people have different opinions.
The person engaged in CAD application development (hereinafter referred to as Cader) said that when managing the CAD file into a headache problem, PDM is born. The PDM is gone, and the born is developed to manage CAD drawings.
The person who has been developed by ERP application (hereinafter referred to as ERPER) said that the past did not heard of PDM, PDM seems really a new concept. So, what is the PDM?
CADER: PDM Manage CAD drawings, parts and BOM tables, can automatically extract BOM tables from the 3D CAD model, the CAD model changes, BOM is also automatic. . .
Erper: Slow! The BOM table is my old ancestor MRP invented. MRP and ERP are born to manage BOM. Do you mean that the BOM table of ERP in the future does not need to manage it, will it be handed over to PDM in the future?
CADER: The latest progress of PDM is now called PLM, which can establish an enterprise model, and ERP is just a subsystem in the PLM system. BOM is of course under PLM or PDM management. Since ERP is a subsystem of PLM, of course, BOM is managed by PLM.
Erper: I was caveted by you. What you mean is that the current PLM already includes all ERP features, just like all the ERP includes all MRP functions and more features, is the result of MRP slowly die? I haven't heard which PLM system can do supply, production, sales, finance, cost management, etc.
CADER: The current PLM software product, even if there is an ERP function, it is still not possible to compare with the current ERP, this is the fact. However, it will include more and more features that are increasingly ERP in the future.
ERPER: It turns out. It is all the features that PLM hopes to provide enterprise informationization. But you can't do it.
CADER: Yes. The modeling function of PLM is very powerful, and the functional model of ERP can be included.
ERPER: That is to say, do you need ERP and PDM / PLM to manage parts and BOM?
CADER: Yes. This is a disadvantage.
Erper: But you have not heard that the modeling function of ERP is also very powerful, can you include the functional model of the PLM?
CADER: I heard a little. Perhaps the software products produced by ERP Software and PLM Software, including each other, and the same as the same.
ERPER: From the PDM function you just introduced, since ERP adds document management functions. . . ERP has never been clear which features should be limited, and it always adds new features. . . In the CAD software company, the CAD drawings also touched. And you said that the function of automatically extracting the BOM table from the 3D CAD model is provided by CAD software, and the BOM of the ERP can of course receive and manage this data. Manage parts and BOM tables, ERP is born. So, PDM is not a new feature.
CADER: But the PDM software supports integration of CAD / CAPP / CAM. Both CAPP and CAM acquire the geometric description information of the design object from the CAD model managed by the PDM.
ERPER: Is the 3D CAD model of PDM management in the form of a data file, stored in the PDM? CADER: Yes.
ERPER: So now there is a document management feature and an ERP with the CAD software integration function, and the three-dimensional CAD model is also managed in a file form. With ERP integrated CAPP and CAM software, you can access geometric description information for the 3D CAD model from the Document Management System of ERP.
Cader: It seems that they are very similar.
Erper: and PDM Integrated CAPP and CAM software, is it information from PDMs, tools, parts materials, etc. The process route, work time quota, CNC machine NC code is also associated with related parts, etc. Is it necessary to deposit?
CADER: It should be like this. But in fact, it is necessary to see how each CAPP and CAM software are designed. Some CAPP and CAM software they own with parts, BOM, and process routes, management functions of working hours, they also have PDM features. This is also a function overlap and data redundancy in this and independent PDM software.
Erper: The CAPP and CAM software integrated with ERP should also obtain information from equipment, tools, parts materials, etc. from ERP. The process route, working hours, and CNC machine NC code are also associated with related parts, and store the ERP system.
CADER: When the PLM system function has developed to the bee, all ERP functions also include it.
ERPER: ERP system requires management equipment, clamp, quality inspection instruments, and all of their status, maintenance management information and product quality inspection records. The document management function is used, and the drawings of these objects are also touched.
CADER: They are also the management object of PLM. This seems that the function overlap of ERP and PDM and more data is more. I am afraid PDM's other product configuration, project management, workflow management, engineering change management, feature and classification function, etc., all of the functionality in ERP.
ERPER: So, PDM is the view from the demand for the management CAD file, is a view formed from the angle of CADER. The functionality of PDM has long been available in ERP when there is no PDM concept. It can even be said that from the era of MRP began.
CADER: PDM / PLM project has always been a headache with ERP seamless integration.
Erper: I heard that some PLM projects, parts, and BOMs, etc. have not been passed to the ERP system. More talked about management equipment, work clamp, quality inspection instruments and product configuration, project management, workflow management, engineering change management, and classification management.
CADER: Some high-end PLMs are completely complete in terms of ERP system integration.
Erper: I have heard of this. However, as mentioned earlier, maybe in which the system can meet all the functional needs of the enterprise, it will become the final victory. I think that at that time, PDM products will die. It has fully integrated into a highly integrated information system, as for the name, it is not important. Perhaps, as a "product data management" concept, PDM will always exist, just like finance. Independent finance software has become less and less, but the finance in the ERP system is still a clear concept and functional range.
