Last week I posted about the true cost of PDM solutions - a reality that prevents the majority of CAD users from using PDM at all. I also recently posted an interview I conducted with robotics hardware designer Matthieu Lapeyre. He made some interesting points about how frustrating it is that PDM solutions are lagging behind the file management tools of the software developers he collaborates with.
Today I’m breaking down what software guys like Matthieu’s colleagues and myself can’t live without in a file management tool - and mechanical engineers shouldn’t have to either.
What software developers require from file management tools (and you should too)
1. Easy to deploy and use
And when I say “easy” I mean radically easy. Software developers expect to be up and running with a file management solution in minutes even if they’ve never used it before. This means no lengthy installations or training are required.
2. SaaS solution with low total cost of ownership
More software solutions are moving to the cloud because of the clear value to the customer. There’s no IT set-up, no maintenance fees and no need for in-house support. SaaS solutions also remove expensive servers, rack space, power, air conditioning and the personnel that goes along with managing them.
3. Scalability
A good file management tool should be suited for teams of 2 to 2,000. Not only that, it should be just as useful to an individual who wants to manage and secure her data.
4. Controlled release process
An important feature that software developers require is the ability for individuals to maintain their work-in-process in a managed way without inflicting the in-process changes prematurely on teammates.
5. File sharing outside the corporate firewall
People outside of the development team need to access files at one point or another. Whether it be suppliers, clients or even to your own home computer, the ability to release files inside and outside the corporate firewall is increasingly important and shouldn’t require any additional work or process.
6. Interoperability
The same file management system should work regardless of the tool used to create that file. Software developers require a tool that works with any authoring tool. For mechanical engineers, file management systems should work with any and all CAD systems and engineering tools.
CAD file management needs to join the modern world
Software developers would never think of starting a project without using a source code management system. Yet hardware developers regularly rig together home grown solutions to a problem that deserves a professional solution.
Software development tools are more advanced yet still easier to deploy and use than hardware file management tools because they were written by software developers for software developers. PDM systems were written by CAD companies for their largest and most demanding customers (something that isn’t often discussed). Because of this, PDM been through far fewer generations of evolution than software tools.
It is no wonder most CAD users are still searching for the right file management solution (or have just plain given up).
Struggling with CAD file management?
Unmanaged CAD data can lead to wasted time and expensive mistakes, but traditional PDM and PLM solutions are too costly for many companies. This guide, written by industry analyst Jim Brown, will help you find the solution that fits your needs.
