On-Demand PDM for SMBs

By DE Editors

Autoweb Inc. (Rochester Hills, MI) has announced the launch of its newData Vault, a lightweight, hosted solution that provides small- tomid-sized manufacturers (SMBs) the PDM (product data management)functions they need without the burdensome costs they don’t need. TheData Vault joins Autoweb’s line of products and services that protectengineering data while enabling users to communicate with their supplychains effectively in a reliable, secure environment, according to Autoweb.

Offered as an on-demand service for SMBs that lack the resourcesrequired to implement a PDM system, the Autoweb Data Vault providessuch key PDM tools as document searching, file import and export, filelevel management, lifecycle management, and version tracking. Autoweb says that this PDM solution, by itsnature, can help manufacturers reduce data errors,increase intellectual property protection, and boost engineeringefficiencies as well as help these companies to know where their datais and its current status.

Among the complementary offerings in the Autoweb line are theIntellectual Property Exchange, a highly secure, hosted applicationthat enables users to move large files quickly and securely amongindustry OEM’s and tier suppliers. Also available are a fileTranslations Exchange, a Content Management Utility for the storage anddistribution of engineering specifications, and a Data ManagementUtility.

Autoweb also offers a Collaborative Exchange Utility. This on-demand,hosted solution provides a secure, Internet-based, virtual project roomto facilitate product engineering in a disparate environment. Theapplication can be used for collaborative design reviews, interactivemarkup sessions, engineering change management, and document management.

For more information on the Data Vault and Autoweb’s full of line of solutions, click here.

Sources: Press materials received from the company. Additional information gleaned from the company website.