A Product Data Management architecture for integrating hardware and software development

This paper proposes an architecture of Product Data Management (PDM) for integrating Software Configuration Management (SCM). The proposed architecture extends its data model to support version items for SCM. Its applications support both PDM and SCM functionalities, as well as integrate hardware parts and software items in product configurations and engineering change management. The architecture is implemented by using a commercial Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system. The implementation enables hardware engineers and software programmers to share the same user environment, on a consistent database during the collaborative product development.

► New product development architecture integrates PDM and SCM.
► The architecture is based on an integrated product data model.
► The product data model is based on ISO standards.
► It can be implemented by commercial PDM systems.
► The implementation supports hardware and software integrated NPD.