11 Replies Latest reply on Jul 21, 2010 10:35 AM by Raymond Pearson

PDMWE versus Adept,SmarTeam,ProductCenter

Gabe Biertzer Jul 9, 2008 2:26 PM

Our engineering department is 100+ users and growing with our primary CAD tool being SolidWorks 2007 SP3.1 We maintain legacy CAD files (CATIA) and work with AutoCAD as a secondary CAD tool. In SolidWorks, we typically work with large CAD assemblies and drawings. Our typical hardware setup is 32-bit with 4GB RAM and high-end graphics. We also use a handful of floating 64-bit systems with 8GB RAM and high-end graphics on an as-needed basis.

I have posted this assuming a common understanding that PDM is necessary in a larger organization and that engineers/designers do not particularly enjoy using it. To summarize, we want PDM to be simple, reliable and stable. Our primary focus is on the quality products we design. It is also fair to say that no matter what PDM is implemented, it will have it's own unique set of challenges, quirks, bugs, etc. for managing files and workflow.

We are in the process of investigating alternative PDM software to our current implementation. The products we are considering include PDMWE, SmarTeam, Adept and Product Center (SW "Gold" Partners). Through our comparison of the various programs (canned demonstrations) using the same weighted criteria, it has been very difficult to identify a clear-cut winner.

I am interested in the following:

1. Feedback regarding experiences with changing to/from PDMWE to/from Adept, SmarTeam or Product Center

2. Key factors - including deal breakers - that led to a final decision in making a PDM software selection

3. Links to additional forums, blogs, user groups, etc. for SmarTeam, Adept and Product Center

PDMWE versus Adept,SmarTeam,ProductCenter

Ken Rodriguez Jul 17, 2008 10:28 PM (in response to Gabe Biertzer)

Gabe - You have 100+ users and do not have a PDM system?
Reason I ask is that data migration should be one of the considerations in selecting your PDM system.
We are having HUGE issues with PDMW "due to the number of users" and are planning to move to PDMWE.
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- PDMWE versus Adept,SmarTeam,ProductCenter
  
  Lucas Dexter Jul 18, 2008 5:19 PM (in response to Ken Rodriguez)
  
  Gabe,
  We too have over 100 SolidWorks users and 100's of read only users for all file types. All of our SolidWorks users are running x64 with 8GB ram. We tried to impliment Smarteam for three years with no success. Thank goodness we did not get into a situation where we implimented and then was sorry we did. I saw Conisio (now PDMWE) at a conference our VAR was putting on and I immediately noticed how easy it is to use, not to mention administer.
  It took us about 1.5 years in preperation of implimenation of PDMWE, about four months of that was waiting unitl the x64 version came out. The program was practically flawless with 2007 SW and PDMWE. 2008, however, is a different story. I currently have over 30 cases open with our VAR on SW/PDMWE 2008 issues where many of them are caused with the PDMWE add-in turned on in Solidworks. I do not mean to scare you away, as I still believe PDMWE to be one of the best, if not the best, PDMWE program out there. But as you mention, they all have their issues.
  Please keep in mind, with as many users as you have, you will definitely not want to skimp on your PDM server. Make it as beefy as you can with plenty of RAM (at least 8GB) and room to grow wich will require you to run x64.
  From what I experienced with Smarteam, I would go with PDMWE hands down.
  
  Hope that helps!
  
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    John Whiteside Sep 19, 2008 3:41 PM (in response to Lucas Dexter)
    
    Lucas,
    
    Do you also use Circuitworks? If so, how to administer it to work with PDMWE? I am right now trying to install PDMWE and the issue of having to check out thousands of CW components is daunting.
    
    Thanks,
    
    John Whiteside
    Garmin International
    
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      Mike Sveda Sep 22, 2008 6:16 PM (in response to John Whiteside)
      
      DO NOT use SmarTeam. My old wasted thousands and thousands of dollars on it. Not fun to use or admin.
      
      PDMWE has worked good for us so far almost one year in. Has issues but is easy to admin and tweak on the fly.
      
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      - PDMWE versus Adept,SmarTeam,ProductCenter
        
        Josh Kersey Oct 22, 2008 2:19 PM (in response to Mike Sveda)
        
        Gabe,
        Wanted to see if you made a decision on PDME or other? I am in the same boat trying to find the pros and cons of PDWE and Siemens Team Center. Currently using PDMWorks Workgroup that is having problems.
        
        Thanks
        Josh Kersey
        
        Also, I haven;t heard or read much good about SmarTeam.
        
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        PDMWE versus Adept,SmarTeam,ProductCenter
        
        Gabe Biertzer Nov 3, 2008 8:07 PM (in response to Josh Kersey)
        
        Josh,
        
        We are still evaluating our options and have begun piloting the products under consideration.
        
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        PDMWE versus Adept,SmarTeam,ProductCenter
        
        Jason Capriotti Nov 3, 2008 8:37 PM (in response to Gabe Biertzer)
        
        Which products are you piloting?
        
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        PDMWE versus Adept,SmarTeam,ProductCenter
        
        Gabe Biertzer Nov 26, 2008 2:05 PM (in response to Jason Capriotti)
        
        SWEPDM, Adept and Product Center
        
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        PDMWE versus Adept,SmarTeam,ProductCenter
        
        Ken Rodriguez Nov 17, 2008 5:10 PM (in response to Josh Kersey)
        
        Josh - I have some experience with TeamCenter and it works very well with NX in a single site. Administration, configuration and customization typically requires "code". It is not very admin friendly in my opinion. There are some known multi-site issues (more than two sites) that they are working on.
        
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- PDMWE versus Adept,SmarTeam,ProductCenter
  
  Gabe Biertzer Jul 22, 2008 11:48 AM (in response to Ken Rodriguez)
  
  Ken,
  
  Currently, we do have PDM implemented - SmarTeam. It was selected because of its integration with our previous CAD software. We have recently (about a year ago) switched to SolidWorks and our choices for integrated PDM have increased considerably. My post is intended to gather experiences with any of the PDMs we are considering - good, bad or indifferent. Thanks for your input.
  
  Gabe
  
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  - Re: PDMWE versus Adept,SmarTeam,ProductCenter
    
    Raymond Pearson Jul 21, 2010 10:35 AM (in response to Gabe Biertzer)
    
    Gabe,
    
    What did you end up using?
    
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