PDM (Product Data Management) is often confused with PLM, but the two serve different roles. PDM focuses on controlling CAD files—managing versions, revisions, and ensuring engineers don’t overwrite each other’s work. It’s the safeguard for design teams that keeps mechanical and electrical design files organized and secure.

But stopping at PDM leaves a gap. While PDM protects the files, PLM expands that control across the product lifecycle: linking CAD data to bills of materials, procurement, compliance, and manufacturing. Without PLM, PDM remains a silo—engineering has order, but the rest of the company doesn’t see the impact of design changes.

That’s why modern platforms unify the two. A PLM that includes PDM software ensures tight engineering collaboration while still anchoring the digital thread that connects design intent with sourcing, suppliers, and production. In practice, that means CAD integrations like SolidWorks or Altium 365 surface directly into the PLM, making procurement digital and accessible in design.

With PLM in place:

• BOM management is centralized and accurate
• Supplier data is linked to design decisions
• Procurement teams can see how engineering changes affect sourcing in real time

With integrations to CAD tools like SolidWorks and Altium 365, PLM can surface information about component availability, approved suppliers, and compliance requirements directly inside the design workflow. 

Engineers get context they can act on immediately, and procurement gains confidence that every part selected is both manufacturable and sourceable.

Procurement has become a lever for competitiveness. With volatile supply chains, long lead times, and complex compliance requirements, sourcing decisions must be made alongside engineering rather than after the fact. Your PLM should play a central role here by giving teams the visibility and control needed for effective supply chain risk management.

The right PLM should act as the central record for product data, bridging the gap between engineering decisions and procurement needs. When designs change, the updates carry through immediately, keeping BOMs current and giving suppliers a clear view of what’s ahead. This alignment helps procurement move faster and with fewer errors.

Duro PLM was designed and built for this new procurement model. With direct CAD integrations, live change tracking, and configurable workflows, it keeps sourcing tied to engineering in real time. That true digital thread helps manufacturers cut costs, move faster, and build supply chains that can handle uncertainty.

Today’s supply chain risks go beyond fluctuating demand and shipping delays. Tariff escalations between major economies are driving up costs, forcing companies to reconfigure sourcing strategies at short notice. Recent U.S. duties on certain electronic components disrupted procurement timelines for high-tech manufacturers, delaying launches and increasing costs.

Environmental events add further uncertainty. Severe weather in Asia earlier this year halted critical semiconductor production, affecting multiple industries. Combined with shortages in metals like lithium and cobalt, manufacturers are under pressure to diversify suppliers, secure alternative materials, and improve forecasting accuracy. 

To stay ahead of these disruptions, companies need systems that deliver real-time visibility and predictive insights—allowing them to identify risks early and adjust before production schedules are affected.

Duro Design unites BOM management, automated change order tracking, and unified supplier data in one platform, giving manufacturers complete visibility and control over their digital supply chain.

With real-time impact analysis and instant updates across engineering, procurement, and manufacturing, teams can catch risks before they escalate and adapt sourcing strategies in minutes instead of days.

Even small delays can mean millions of lost revenue in the global supply chain. With Duro Design, manufacturers gain the speed, clarity, and resilience to stay ahead. It’s the difference between hoping your supply chain holds together—and knowing it will.

Product data management refers to the systems and processes that store, track, and manage design data, typically including CAD files, drawings, specs, and related documentation.

PDM software provides a single source of truth for product files, controls versions and revisions, records who made what change and when, prevents conflicting edits across team members, and securely stores everything in a centralized location. 

Choosing the rice product data management system helps teams avoid version mix-ups and manual file handoffs, safeguarding design intent and traceability.

A change order, often called an ECO (Engineering Change Order), is the formal process for updating product information, whether it’s a design revision, part replacement, or sourcing adjustment.

A single change might seem straightforward, but its effects can be far-reaching. An updated CAD model triggers drawing revisions and tolerance checks. A switch to a new supplier forces sourcing teams to renegotiate lead times and pricing. Even compliance teams need to update documentation to meet regulatory standards.

When managed well, change orders keep teams aligned and products accurate. But when they’re delayed or handled manually, one overlooked dependency can snowball into production errors and supply chain slowdowns.