A blog by Oleg Shilovitsky
Information & Comments about Engineering and Manufacturing Software

Should we “pack” PLM data into 3D PDF?

Should we “pack” PLM data into 3D PDF?
Oleg
Oleg
3 May, 2011 | 2 min for reading

The ability to use PLM in downstream applications was always a challenge. There are multiple reasons for that – complexity of products, expensive licenses, long implementation cycle. At the same time, the value of downstream application is huge. The amount of data that organization can proliferate downstream is growing – it is 3D/2D CAD models and drawings, manufacturing planning information, technical documentation, RFQ for suppliers and many others. I had a chance to read CAD CAM News few days ago. The article is how PROSTEP develops of 3D PDF generator  to facilitate information exchange in the organization. The title was catchy – PROSTEP packages the whole world of engineering in a 3D PDF document. Here is my favorite passage:

PROSTEP PDF Generator 3D allows the server-based extraction of all types of engineering data from the respective CAD, PLM or ERP systems and the embedding of this data in 3D PDF documents. In addition, the container function allows native CAD data, Word documents, pictures and video clips to be added to these documents. Depending on the rights granted by the document owner, the contents can be visualized, copied, printed and/or annotated with Adobe Reader. “Intelligent” templates allow information to be entered into fields on forms or incorporated in dynamic bar codes so that it is automatically evaluated upon return and transferred to the backend systems.

It made me think about the approach. Data is extracted from files, PDM/PLM and ERP systems. The 3D PDF file is generated. Then files can be distributed downstream in the organization and among suppliers. Adobe reader is the only application that needed for this purpose. You can navigate to the following link to see examples of 3D PDF file generated for different purposes.

The advantages of this approach is clear. Files can be sent everywhere and accessed by any person in the organization. No need for licenses. Adobe interface is simple enough. However, what is the potential downside? In my view, connectivity (or potential “dis-connectivity”) is one of them. Information “packed” into 3D PDF file is similar to the other file-oriented solution (i.e. Excel files with Bill of Materials). The ability to have an updated information re-packed again can be critical to provide “timely” information downstream.

What is my conclusion? To find a reliable way to make the information available downstream is critical for many organizations. 3D PDF seems to be as an option. The file-orientation paradigm helps current users to achieve their goal in an easy way. However, the “packing” a whole system into set of files seems to me problematic. The synchronization, run for updated information can become a nightmare. Just my thoughts…  What is your opinion?

Best, Oleg

Recent Posts

Also on BeyondPLM

4 6
13 June, 2022

In today’s business world, it is more important than ever to be able to digitally transform your company in order...

8 December, 2010

Navigate your browser to the following link. GSA is moving to Google Apps. According to the Google blog, US GSA...

22 January, 2022

In my two years old article in the Onshape blog, I shared my thoughts about what will be PLM systems...

9 March, 2017

PLM companies are in full swing adopting IoT technologies and marketing language. And one of the most of important element...

23 March, 2017

Workflows is a very essential part of PLM system and overall product lifecycle management paradigm. PLM vendors are using workflow...

2 June, 2009

Watching multiple demos and analyzes of Microsoft Gemini Project.  Since a huge amount of corporate and product related data is...

17 November, 2011

Cloud big time… It is probably coming to General Motors. Google is fighting against Microsoft to supply 100’00 license deal...

21 February, 2018

Last two days I attended PI PLMx conference in Hamburg. It was a honor for me to become a chairman...

6 November, 2013

Engineering software has a long history of aggregation and disaggregation. In CAD, it was long time about new features vendors...

Blogroll

To the top