After successful completion of the course, students are able to:

• understand basic concepts and functions of a PDM.
• give an overview of IT tools for managing product data.
• explain the processes of a design versioning.
• explain a product structure and discuss the concepts of variations and versions.
• explain and justify the separation of user and metadata.
• reproduce basic features of configuration management.
• apply part classification and conduct information searches in a PDM theoretically.
• structure PDM workflows and implement the use of PDM functions for project management.
• discuss PDM integration concepts and name interfaces.
• quickly get a practical introduction to the use of a PDMS.

• Introduction (Product models, development methods, process chains)
• Product lifecycle Management (PLM) as a strategic approach and PDM as a tool
• PDM Basic Concepts (Metadatenansatz, object models, structuring)
• Basic Technologies for PDMS (databases, client-server architectures)
• General handling and administration functions (e.g. benefits/privileges)
• Document and Object Management (product data)
• Product structure and configuration management
• Part classification and information search
• Workflow and Project Management
• PDM integration concepts, interfaces, standards
• PDM Implementation Projects

Presentation of IT-supported processes of product data management.

Presentation of organizational and methodological approaches to cooperative work practices and process-oriented thinking within product development supported by dedicated IT systems.

Discussion of typical processes in the product lifecycle from the point of view of data management.

Lecture starts at 10:15 (c.t).

The written exam reviews the understanding of the core content of the lecture material. Most of the questions are taken from a published questionnaire and can be independently prepared from the script.

The performance is assessed with a written examination at the end of the semester.