Integrating SOLIDWORKS PDM (Product Data Management) with a PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) system is one of the most effective ways for companies to streamline their product development process. In fact, building a connector between SOLIDWORKS PDM and PLM systems helps bridge the gap between engineering and enterprise operations.
While PDM ensures files and revisions are controlled locally, PLM provides enterprise-wide visibility, connecting engineering data to the wider business, including manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams.
The scope of a connector is not to replace either system, but to create a bridge that ensures the right information flows between them. Most companies do not require an exhaustive integration of every field or object instead, they typically need a few key workflows automated.
What Most Companies Need
Through our experience working with manufacturing and engineering firms, we’ve found that almost 90% of companies ask for the same three capabilities when planning a PDM-to-PLM connector:
- Automatic Part Number Creation
- Companies want the PLM system to generate part numbers and send them back to PDM to ensure consistency and prevent duplicates.
- Syncing of Data Card and Associated Files
- Metadata from PDM data cards (properties such as Description, Material, Project, etc.) must flow to the PLM.
- If needed, associated files like PDF drawings or neutral CAD formats (STEP, IGES, etc.) are also sent automatically.
- Syncing of BOMs (Bills of Materials)
- The BOM structure, including quantities and rows, is synchronized into PLM.
- This ensures manufacturing and planning teams always have the correct, up-to-date product structure.
These three elements cover many use cases and represent the backbone of most PDM-to-PLM connectors.
Triggers for Synchronization
For a connector to be practical, it must support flexible triggers that PDM administrators can configure. Based on real-world requests, there are three primary trigger methods:
- Right-Click Menu Action
- Users can right-click a file (or multiple files) in PDM Explorer to trigger a one-direction sync from PDM to PLM.
- This action can include both data card synchronization and BOM transfer.
- Data Card Button
- A button on the PDM data card provides a convenient way for users to manually push data from a single part or assembly to PLM without needing workflow transitions.
- Automatic Sync on Workflow Transition
- The most common requirement is syncing automatically when a file is released.
- For example, when a CAD file moves to the “Released” state in PDM, the connector pushes the metadata, associated PDFs, and BOM into PLM without user intervention.
This three-pronged approach balances user control with automation, making it easy for administrators to configure the right level of synchronization for their company.
Saving Settings
A PDM-to-PLM connector requires configuration, and one of the key considerations is how and where to save settings.
- Credentials Only: Best practice is to store only the PLM login credentials in PDM. These credentials allow the connector to authenticate when pushing or pulling data.
- Encryption: Credentials should always be encrypted before being saved in the vault or registry, ensuring they cannot be exposed if someone gains access to the server or database.
In addition to credentials, variable mapping is a critical part of the setup:
- Variable Mapping: The connector needs to know how PDM data card variables map to PLM attributes. For example:
- PDM Variable: Description → PLM Field: Part Description
- PDM Variable: Material → PLM Field: Material
- PDM Variable: Project → PLM Field: Project Code
- Flexible Configuration: This mapping should be configured by administrators through a settings page or XML/JSON file, allowing them to adjust fields without modifying the connector itself.
- Consistency: Mapping ensures that the right metadata flows correctly between systems and that BOM rows remain aligned with the part attributes in PLM.
By keeping settings lightweight encrypted credentials plus variable mappings companies ensure the connector is secure, adaptable, and easy to maintain.
Technical Requirements
At a technical level, the PLM system must expose a method for receiving data. The most straightforward option is a REST API:
- REST API: While not mandatory, a modern REST interface makes the integration cleaner and easier to maintain. It allows the connector to send and receive JSON payloads for part creation, metadata updates, and BOM structures.
- Alternative Options: For PLMs without REST APIs, connectors may rely on file-based exchanges (CSV, XML) or SOAP web services, though these approaches are more brittle and harder to maintain.
Ultimately, while workarounds exist, the presence of a well-documented REST API significantly reduces development cost and improves long-term reliability.
Conclusion
Creating a connector between SOLIDWORKS PDM and a PLM system is less about building an all-encompassing integration and more about solving a handful of core use cases. Nearly every company benefits from building a connector between SOLIDWORKS PDM and PLM systems that supports:
- Automatic part number generation
- Syncing metadata, PDFs, and associated files
- Syncing BOM structures and quantities
When paired with flexible triggers (manual or automatic) and secure settings management (encrypted credentials + variable mapping), these features ensure smooth collaboration between engineering and the rest of the business.
At the technical level, a REST API is strongly recommended, but not strictly required, to implement a reliable connector.
About Blue Byte Systems Inc.
Blue Byte Systems Inc. is a Canadian software company specializing in SOLIDWORKS API and PDM automation. With over a decade of experience, we have built tools and connectors that help engineering teams eliminate manual steps and keep their data in sync across platforms.
Our solutions, including PDMShell, PDMPublisher, and PDM2Excel, are trusted by companies worldwide to streamline workflows and improve efficiency. Whether you need a custom connector to your PLM or a turnkey automation solution, Blue Byte Systems delivers software that puts engineers back in control of their time.