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
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
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.