PDMWorks Example Process
PDMWorks Example Process
(OP)
Our company has been using PDMWorks for a few years and we're trying to improve our use of the software. Right now we've got about 10 PDM users in our Engineering department and of that only 5 use the Solidworks software. We've also got 2 PDM users in our Purchasing department who as well don't use Solidworks. Our process right now is when a user is finished a SW drawing and has the paper copy signed by the manager, they place all of the files associated with that drawing in a folder on out Network drive and send me, the admin, an email telling me a drawing ready to be checked into PDM. (I'm the only one with rights to do so). I open the file on my computer and check the naming of all the parts and assemblies so they do not conflict with that which is in the vault. (We have lots of similar parts & assemblies that have minor differences and could easily be called the same name) I make a pdf of the drawing file and check in the SW drawing to the correct project and set the lifecycle to 'Issued for Manufacturing'. I then add the pdf as an attachment to the drawing. The users in the Purchasing department and the Engineering department have RO access to files in this lifecycle. If an Engineer wants to do a revision, they open a copy of the file on their local hardrive and change the lifecycle status the 'Revision in Progress'. Users in the Purchasing department have no access to files in this lifecycle but can still see them so they know the file is being revised. After the engineer has the revision approved they follow the same procedure as the new drawing. This whole process seems to be working but it's starting to get to be a lot of unnecessary work on my part, especially since our users keep increasing. Does anyone have any suggestions or examples of our their company uses PDM? Thanks.
Sean
Carmanah Design and Manufacturing
Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.carmanahdesign.com






RE: PDMWorks Example Process
Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-21-07)
RE: PDMWorks Example Process
Anyway....
You could create a new project named "ECO WIP" where all the work is done. When ready for release, all you would have to do is change the status. This assumes you are using the lifecycle functionality in PDMWorks.
RE: PDMWorks Example Process
I just wanted to get input as to how other companies use PDMWorks such as how a drawing goes about the steps from starting to being checked in and how revisions are handled.
Sean
Carmanah Design and Manufacturing
Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.carmanahdesign.com
RE: PDMWorks Example Process
Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
sw.fcsuper.com
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
RE: PDMWorks Example Process
Sean
Carmanah Design and Manufacturing
Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.carmanahdesign.com
RE: PDMWorks Example Process
Read the whats new document from SolidWorks for 2008. New automated PDF functionality is incorporated into PDMWorks. Upon check-in, a pdf file can be automatically created. The Whats New pdf has been made public, so I can mention this.
http:/
This could help ease some of the time you spend...
Pete
RE: PDMWorks Example Process
Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
sw.fcsuper.com
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
RE: PDMWorks Example Process
Sean
Carmanah Design and Manufacturing
Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.carmanahdesign.com
RE: PDMWorks Example Process
RE: PDMWorks Example Process
RE: PDMWorks Example Process
Some info for new PDMW users.
h
Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-21-07)
RE: PDMWorks Example Process
I can't recommend. There's a ton of them out there, many taylored for specific industries. I have experience with Agile, but it's more for mid-size companies (100+); not because the software itself, but because of their fee structure.
Have you looked into PDMWorks Enterprise to see if that will cover your needs?
Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
sw.fcsuper.com
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group