SOLIDWORKS'S PDM Benefits
SOLIDWORKS 2016 was launched and was also announced that Workgroup PDM will be retiring in 2018. A few customers of Workgroup PDM might have received further notifications from SOLIDWORKS concerning the planned retirement. This document is for all SOLIDWORKS users, but with the focus on Workgroup PDM users.
If you are one of the SOLIDWORKS users that don't have an Data Management system, it is worthwhile to explain briefly three key benefits of purchase solidworks PDM system can bring to a company.
Data management
As an example, we can use Microsoft Word documents to illustrate the concept. All data (or text) can be found within the same document. If you copy and paste that document into a folder of your PC and it displays in the way you expect. SOLIDWORKS files, even at the levels of part, are as simple as this and moving up to the assembly and drawing level, the files are storing hyperlinks to other documents. A file called an assembly is meant to hold pointers to the location of other files, information about the method of mating components, as well information about their characteristics for display, and so on. If you wish extra resources about solidworks, navigate to this website.
Therefore, managing and moving these files around a windows operating file system could cause issues with assemblies that are unable to find files, or drawings opening without a blank. This can result in delays in finding "lost" documents or missing links to folders that have multiple files. SOLIDWORKS Explorer is required to move files around on the system. This allows users to identify and update references in assemblies or drawings, even after they've been moved. Many users are unaware of this or ignore it and make use of Windows' cut-and-paste functionality.
It is also the most beneficial benefit to the use of Data Management systems. The System is aware of references and updates happen in a timely manner when SOLIDWORKS files are moved about within it.
Searching
Another common operation that many SOLIDWORKS users do is search for files. You can only use Windows Search without Data Management. This allows users to search for documents using their filename. Property information that we add to an SOLIDWORKS file could extend to things like material, manufacturing ID, part numbers or vendor, among others. The standard Windows search cannot find these types of properties. Data Management systems can search these "metadatas" effectively and efficiently offering faster and more accurate search results. This can accelerate product development by making it possible for users to swiftly find components they've made earlier in their projects, and reuse the document or component instead of making a new one.
Access Control
When using an Windows structured file, the first user to open a SOLIDWORKS file has control of it, meaning that if one opens an assembly the file, nobody else has access to modify the component parts. There is a possibility of making mistakes or change parts. This could lead to lost work and delays to projects. Because files are stored within a Windows folder structure that means any employee having access to this folder structure, could possibly remove or relocate any of the solidworks file. It is impossible to have control over who has access to important design data.
The Data Management system gives everyone that has access to information a username, password and access restrictions. Access rights are restricted to particular folders, and limited to specific operations. Every operation that is carried out on a file for example, a design change or a quantity boost, are recorded by the system. Additionally, users' details as well as the time of the change are documented. This allows full traceability of this kind of action, which is not possible with simple Windows file formats.
The above functionality was already included within the SOLIDWORKS Workgroup PDM.