Managing CAD product data is no easy task. For engineering and product teams working with high-value assemblies in tools like SolidWorks or AutoCAD, poor data control can lead to costly mistakes. From rework due to last-minute design changes to sourcing the wrong components, CAD Product Data Management (PDM) challenges can seriously impact product timelines, quality, and costs.
2D and 3D CAD drawings are not just design files—they represent weeks or months of work and tens of thousands of dollars in development investment. In many of the companies we work with at Cognidox, a single drawing can be worth over $30K, and may involve hundreds of supplier relationships, often globally distributed.
One of the most damaging issues reported was the “wrong version pitfall”—where teams accidentally use outdated versions of drawings or parts lists. Poor-performing teams said this happened “often or all the time.”
Yet, surprisingly, only around 50% of surveyed organisations used dedicated tools to mitigate these problems.
Some opt for expensive PDM tools from CAD vendors like:
Others try to patch the problem with open-source version control systems like Apache Subversion (SVN)—but these tools are often repurposed from software development, not optimised for CAD workflows, and suffer from poor usability.
A recent survey by ENGINEERING.com, which spoke to 151 product development professionals, found that many face recurring CAD data challenges:
Poor quality performers reported the wrong version pitfall as happening “Often or All the time”. Only around half the surveyed companies used tools to mitigate these problems. These tools may be 3rd party (and expensive) add-ons from the CAD vendors but we also often see re-purposed open-source version control system tools such as Apache Subversion (SVN). There are overlapping requirements such as file check-in/check-out. Usability is often very poor. Either way, it is not a successful strategy.
In high-precision manufacturing and design, there’s little room for error. The growing complexity of assemblies, rising number of suppliers, and demand for speed-to-market require clear data ownership, change control, and better visibility.
Whether you're using SolidWorks, Creo, or AutoCAD, improving CAD PDM isn’t just about avoiding mistakes—it’s about building a more agile, compliant, and efficient product development process.