Working with manufacturing data can be challenging without a good PDM environment to work within. Here are some examples of challenges that you may face: 

• Making sure that purchasing doesn't accidentally purchase an older release or work in progress component.
• Avoiding fabrication of components that are not released for production.
• Preventing anyone from editing files that are in review, released, or obsolete. 

Companies put systems in place to avoid these costly errors (and many others). But too often this is with tools that were not meant to control manufacturing data. These methods can be work-arounds and band-aid solutions that still leave too much room for errors.

SolidWorks Enterprise PDM is a system designed to solve these manufacturing specific problems. EPDM uses workflows to control the accessibility of documentation and can even watermark documentation to reduce the chances of costly errors.

A simple workflow can include just a few states (see example below and keep in mind, this is a fully customizable functionality).

This workflow can be configured to do any of the following:

• Limit access of Work In Progress data to just Engineers and Engineering Managers.
• Make only documents in Work In Progress editable. All other states would be read only.
• Limit access for Shop Floor and Purchasing to see only Released Documents.
• Water mark a drawing with the current state and update revision levels automatically so printed copies are accurately represented.

Watch this video to learn more about how SolidWorks Enterprise PDM's ability to improve security and process control of documents for manufacturers.

Guess what!  DesignPoint Solutions is hosting FREE hands-on test drives of EPDM in March. Register Now

And don't forget about the EPDM User Group!