Mind the Gap: Navigating CAD Product Data Management Challenges

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.

The High Stakes of Poor CAD Data Management

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.

The Version Control Gap in Engineering Teams

One of the most damaging issues reported was the “wrong version pitfall”—where teams accidentally use outdated versions of drawings or parts lists.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:

• SOLIDWORKS PDM 29%
• Autodesk Vault 23%
• Windchill 14%
• Autodesk PLM360 14%
• Teamcenter 13%
• ENOVIA 6%
• Omnify 1%

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.

Common Problems in CAD Product Data Workflows

A recent survey by ENGINEERING.com, which spoke to 151 product development professionals, found that many face recurring CAD data challenges:

• Missing steps in the release process
• Encountering late-stage design changes that require rework
• Failing to get input from necessary collaborators
• Ordering wrong parts
• Working from the wrong version of documents

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.

Final Thoughts: Building a Leaner CAD Data Process

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.