Articles by Brandon Adkins

How do you get started with integrating your PDM or PLM into your stack? Start with the right questions. 

The Cloud... These days, we’re pretty much all using it in some form or fashion. However, when it comes to storing CAD data, you may not have made the jump to a Cloud solution yet. The good news is, there’s a solution that allows you to keep using the same desktop SOLIDWORKS you love, with a connection to a Cloud data management system using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. It’s called Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS. In this article, we’ll talk through some of the questions that come up most frequently when getting started in your Cloud data management environment. 

Often when we think about SOLIDWORKS, our mind jumps to 3D CAD. As many of us know, however, the SOLIDWORKS portfolio offers a lot more than that. The same can be said when it comes to data management. Hearing the words “SOLIDWORKS PDM,” most people tend to think of “managing SOLIDWORKS CAD files.”  

You may have been using SOLIDWORKS for a while, or maybe you are just getting started. Whatever the case may be, there has never been a better time than now to think about managing all the files that you’re creating. Issues with missing references, incorrect revisions of drawings being used in production, or even overwritten files are all common challenges that are difficult to solve without a proper product data management (PDM) software.

Design changes WILL happen, it’s just a matter of time. As an engineer, wouldn't you rather spend your time coming up with new ideas for the next generation of your design rather than trying to hunt through data to find what you need?

We’ve all been through situations where the wrong revision of a design was sent out for production, or maybe that CAD file was moved to another file location, and now you can’t find it. You can probably think of your own examples that are similar but may have had to do with a need for more powerful product data management (PDM) tools.

SOLIDWORKS PDM can help any organization focus their attention on designing better products instead of manually managing their files or the changes that need to happen with them. Here, we’ll focus on a few key aspects of SOLIDWORKS PDM that help you manage your files and change processes with ease.