--- title: Definition of Product Data Management description: "What does PDM mean? I ISD Group\nManage your data throughout the product life cycle. PDM software supports you in demanding engineering tasks throughout the entire process chain. Learn what PDM is and how this software is able to support you." image: https://blog.isdgroup.com/hubfs/HEliOS%20Kampagne/Definition%20PDM.jpg --- [![ISD Group](https://blog.isdgroup.com/hubfs/ISD%20Group%20thema/images/isd-group-logo.svg "ISD Group")](https://www.isdgroup.com/en/) - Products - HiCAD - [CAD for All-rounders and Specialists](https://www.isdgroup.com/en/products/cad-for-all-rounders-and-specialists/) - [2-D/3-D CAD Software](https://www.isdgroup.com/en/products/cad-software-for-2d-3d-design/) - [The "All-in-One" CAD Solution](https://www.isdgroup.com/en/products/all-in-one-cad-solution/) - [Software Kernel](https://www.isdgroup.com/en/products/software-kernel/) - [Import and Exchange of Data](https://www.isdgroup.com/en/products/import-and-exchange-of-data/) - HELiOS - [PDM Product Data Management](https://www.isdgroup.com/en/products/pdm-product-data-management/) - [DMS Document Management](https://www.isdgroup.com/en/products/dms-document-management/) - [CAD Data Management](https://www.isdgroup.com/en/products/cad-data-management/) - 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[deutschDE](https://blog.isdgroup.com/de/definition-produktdatenmanagement) [PDM-software HELiOS](https://blog.isdgroup.com/en/tag/pdm-software-helios) # Definition of Product Data Management 29 July 2022 ![Definition of Product Data Management](https://blog.isdgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HEliOS%20Kampagne/Definition%20PDM.jpg?upscale=true&width=730&height=410&name=Definition%20PDM.jpg) ## One Solution for Many Challenges How many CAD files are on your computer for one single project? The total number of design files can quickly reach 6 digits, consisting of order data, designs, views, simulations, bills of materials in Excel, financial plans, etc. In addition, many correspondences with customers, suppliers and designers make it difficult to keep track of all the documents. With this large sum of files, do you know… - what the status of the construction is? - what clearances exist? - where all your documents are? If you want a complete organization of your processes, then I invite you to learn more about the topic of PDM. ## What Is PDM? Product data management (PDM) enables the storage and management of product model data. All files related to the life cycle of a model are structured in a project-oriented manner. It’s more than just administration, however, it is an innovative software for the entire process chain; you will get an overview of all files and who has worked on what at which point in time. The former term "Engineering Data Management (EDM)" shows that this software is a suitable tool for the construction industry. Document management systems (DMS) are often equated with PDM. However, a DMS is only about pure administration. In contrast, PDM helps you to optimize your processes and serves as a link between the CAD and ERP systems. ## When Can PDM Successfully Support? In civil engineering projects, plant design or product design, many people are involved in the design process through development to the finished model. In the most common cases, these are distributed across different locations. These people have a wide range of competencies that need to be bundled to successfully move projects forward. To organize this data, you need a PDM system to avoid the loss of data and competencies. In addition, you have the advantage of being able to quickly find all historical data about past projects, so that there are no obstacles to the renewed manufacturing of products. Would you like to learn more about the importance of PDM for your company? Read the following blog article: ["Importance of PDM for your company: Discover a new world"](https://blog.isdgroup.com/en/importance-of-pdm?hsLang=en) For a visual explanation of what PDM is, feel free to watch the following video: For more free information on solutions that a PDM system can offer, see our Digital Transformation guide. 👇 [![Download the Guide](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8002643/d72fd672-7d34-432e-8f56-cdec30c6af56.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/8002643/d72fd672-7d34-432e-8f56-cdec30c6af56)   - - - - - [mailto:?subject=Definition%20of%20Product%20Data%20Management&body=https://blog.isdgroup.com/en/definition-of-product-data-management](mailto:?subject=Definition%20of%20Product%20Data%20Management&body=https://blog.isdgroup.com/en/definition-of-product-data-management) ![Anna Böcker, Marketing & Communication](https://blog.isdgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foto%20anna%207.jpeg?width=192&height=192&name=Foto%20anna%207.jpeg) Anna Böcker, Marketing & Communication Anna is a content creator for ISD Group. As a member of the international marketing team, she creates materials for our prospects & customers. By describing technically complex functions in a simple way, she creates interesting materials for our target audience around the world. Before joining ISD Group, she completed an apprenticeship and a university degree. Besides marketing topics, she is interested in writing and languages. [![isd-pdm-digital-transformation](https://blog.isdgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HEliOS%20Kampagne/isd-pdm-digital-transformation-schlagschatteb.jpg?width=2920&height=3739&name=isd-pdm-digital-transformation-schlagschatteb.jpg) PDM Guidebook for free Get to know more about Digital Transformation & PDM. Download](https://content.isdgroup.com/pdm/digital-transformation_en?hsLang=en) [go back](https://blog.isdgroup.com/en) ## You may also like these blogs ## [![](https://blog.isdgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/release2023_helios.png?width=360&height=202&name=release2023_helios.png) SERViCE, PDM-software HELiOS HELiOS 2023 With HELiOS 2023, the latest version of our PDM system is now available. read more](https://blog.isdgroup.com/en/helios-2023?hsLang=en) ## [![HELiOS 2024 Service Pack 2](https://blog.isdgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/d957291f-6369-409d-fb6a-04701cef85a0.png?width=360&height=202&name=d957291f-6369-409d-fb6a-04701cef85a0.png) SERViCE, PDM-software HELiOS HELiOS 2024 - Service Pack 2 Innovative features for a smooth workflow! With HELiOS 2024 SP2, the latest program version of our PDM software is now available. We have made every effort to optimise many functions for easier and faster use. We have briefly summarised the highlights of the version here for you. read more](https://blog.isdgroup.com/en/helios-2024-service-pack-2?hsLang=en) ## [![](https://blog.isdgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/release2024sp1_helios.png?width=360&height=202&name=release2024sp1_helios.png) SERViCE, PDM-software HELiOS HELiOS 2024 - Service Pack 1 Innovative features for a smooth workflow! With HELiOS 2024 SP1, the latest program version of our PDM software is now available. We have made every effort to optimise many functions for easier and faster use. We have summarised the highlights of this version for you here. read more](https://blog.isdgroup.com/en/helios-2024-service-pack-1?hsLang=en) Do you have any further questions? We will gladly help you. 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