What PDM provides out of the box
- Secure central vault for CAD files and documents.
- Check-in / check-out, versions and revisions.
- Where-used and reference tracking.
- Lifecycle states and approval workflows.
- Search by properties.
What integration and automation add
| Automation | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Automatic part numbering from rules or ERP | No duplicates, no manual number lists |
| Property validation on check-in | Clean data from day one |
| Automatic PDF / DXF / STEP on release | Always-current outputs for production |
| Revision and title block updates | Drawings match PDM state automatically |
| BOM export to ERP on release | Purchasing starts immediately |
| Notifications to production or suppliers | Faster hand-over |
Autodesk Vault
Vault offers the Vault API (.NET) and Job Processor for background tasks. Custom jobs can create PDFs, DWFs, DXFs and STEP files on lifecycle transitions, sync with ERP, or update properties. Vault Professional also manages items and BOMs.
SOLIDWORKS PDM
SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional provides an API for add-ins that react to events such as check-in or state changes, custom data card behaviour and task add-ins that run on task hosts for conversions and integrations.
// SOLIDWORKS PDM add-in: react to a workflow transition (conceptual)
public void OnCmd(ref EdmCmd poCmd, ref EdmCmdData[] ppoData)
{
if (poCmd.meCmdType == EdmCmdType.EdmCmd_PostState)
{
foreach (var d in ppoData)
QueueExportAndErpSync(d.mlObjectID1); // file ID
}
}Pitfalls to avoid
- Too many mandatory fields that frustrate users.
- Heavy processing in check-in events that slows engineers.
- Automation without logs, making problems hard to trace.
- Not testing with PDM upgrades.
Put heavy work in background tasks. Engineers should never wait for PDM automation.
PDM integration with ENGIMANDI
We build Autodesk Vault jobs and SOLIDWORKS PDM add-ins, including ERP integration. See our integration services.