Managing product data is no longer just about locking files in a vault. Modern engineering teams work across disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, software, and across tools (SolidWorks, Onshape, Altium, GitHub, etc). They collaborate globally, make decisions faster, and need access to accurate, connected product information. Traditional PDM systems, built in a document-centric era, simply can’t keep up.
At OpenBOM, we believe it’s time to reimagine PDM for today’s engineering challenges. Our approach is cloud-native, collaborative, and built for the way real teams work across modern and legacy tools alike.
From Vaults to Collaboration: The Shift in PDM
Legacy PDM systems emerged from a world of Windows desktops and file servers. Their primary job was to control who could check out a file and prevent accidental overwrites. This worked in single-office, single-CAD-tool environments, but that world is gone.
Today’s engineering reality is very different:
- Teams are distributed and often remote.
- Products are multi-disciplinary by nature and include mechanical enclosures, PCBs, firmware, and embedded systems.
- Tools vary widely – some teams use cloud CAD like Onshape, others still rely on file-based tools like SolidWorks or Altium Designer.
Example: A medtech startup might use SolidWorks for mechanical components, Altium 365 for electronics, and GitHub for firmware. These systems don’t talk to each other, and managing the changes between them is a manual, error-prone process.
That’s where the cracks in traditional PDM begin to show.
The Real Problem: Disconnected Tools and Fragmented Data
Engineering data is scattered across:
- File servers
- CAD vaults
- Cloud repositories
- Excel sheets
- Shared drives
- Emails
Each system may have its own version control mechanism—or none at all. And even if individual tools are organized, there’s rarely a single source of truth that brings all the information together.
What’s missing is a unified layer that connects these systems and aligns everyone around accurate product data.
Example: When an engineer changes a motor in CAD, but the procurement team is still working off an older BOM in Excel, the result is misordered parts, production delays, and wasted budget.
Rethinking PDM: The OpenBOM Approach
OpenBOM rethinks PDM by breaking it down into two levels (1) design files (or data) and structured product information (xBOM), and connecting them with a unified, cloud-based architecture using a multi-tenant scalable platform.
Design File Management Layer
Most PDM systems only manage files. OpenBOM does this too, but in a smarter, more flexible way:
Smart Sync Cloud Storage
Files are stored in the cloud, versioned automatically, and always accessible—without local servers or IT overhead. A mechanical engineer working on a new electric scooter frame uploads the assembly into OpenBOM via the SolidWorks plug-in. It’s stored in the cloud and versioned, so a teammate in another office can access it immediately—without emailing ZIP files or using Dropbox.
Design Projects
Organize files by product, team, or program. Each project acts like a folder with built-in file management and version control. A team working on a modular IoT sensor creates separate design projects for hardware, electronics, and packaging – each with its own structure but managed in one place.
Collaborative Lock and Check-in/Check-out
Prevents file conflicts while still enabling multiple users to contribute in parallel. One engineer checks out a file to redesign a mounting bracket. At the same time, another updates documentation and drawings for compliance—no conflicts, no lost work.
Native CAD Integrations
OpenBOM integrates directly with SolidWorks, Altium, Fusion 360, and others to capture file data and synchronize metadata. From within Fusion 360, a user generates a BOM with thumbnails, descriptions, and part numbers—all synced to the OpenBOM workspace in one click.
Item and xBOM Management Layer
Beyond files, the real value lies in organizing structured product data—Items, BOMs, suppliers, revisions, and workflows.
Item-Driven Product Structure
Each part or subassembly is tracked as a unique Item with its own metadata, revision, cost, and supplier information. A company sourcing lithium-ion batteries creates a single Item definition that includes vendor information, spec sheets, and pricing. That Item is reused across multiple products and BOMs without duplication.
Multi-Disciplinary BOMs
Bring together components from different domains—mechanical, electrical, software—into one cohesive product structure. An autonomous vehicle startup creates a BOM that includes SolidWorks-designed parts, Altium-managed PCBs, and even firmware module names from GitHub. All of these are tracked in a single multi-level BOM in OpenBOM.
GitHub-Style Revision Control
Items and BOMs can be versioned, branched, and approved using a clear, traceable mechanism. A change in a PCB layout triggers a new BOM revision. The previous version is preserved, and both can be compared to identify what changed and why.
Collaborative Editing and Approvals
Teams can edit product structures in real-time and submit changes for review and approval without emails or spreadsheet chaos. While an engineer updates part weights and materials, the procurement team adds supplier codes and costs—all in the same BOM. Once ready, the changes are routed for approval and locked in before manufacturing.
OpenBOM Architecture: Flexible, Scalable, Built for the Cloud
At its core, OpenBOM PDM provides a flexible architecture that supports the needs of modern and legacy environments alike.
🔹 Two-level model – File control + structured product data
🔹 Cloud-native, multi-tenant – No servers to manage, accessible from anywhere
🔹 CAD-integrated – Works with desktop and cloud tools out of the box
🔹 Graph-based model – Supports complex relationships across assemblies, revisions, suppliers, and documentation
This architecture powers OpenBOM’s ability to scale from small startups to large engineering teams managing thousands of items and changes.
Use Cases and Benefits
OpenBOM PDM helps companies of all sizes bring order, collaboration, and clarity to product data management. Here’s how:
Manage File-Based CAD Projects
Eliminate version confusion and email chaos by securely managing SolidWorks, Altium, or Inventor files in the cloud. A contract manufacturer with multiple clients uses OpenBOM Design Projects to manage separate CAD datasets per customer, ensuring confidentiality and consistency.
Connect Cloud Design Tools
Seamlessly integrate with Onshape, Fusion, or Altium 365 to bring cloud-native and desktop workflows together. A product development firm uses Onshape for industrial design and Altium 365 for PCBs. OpenBOM unifies both workflows into a single BOM for sourcing and manufacturing.
Create Unified Product Structures
Build comprehensive, multi-level BOMs that reflect real-world product configurations—spanning mechanical, electrical, and digital domains. A bicycle manufacturer builds a top-level BOM with hundreds of components, including aluminum frames (from SolidWorks), e-bike motors (from a vendor), and embedded sensors—all structured and tracked in OpenBOM.
Enable Multi-User Collaboration
Empower teams to work together in real-time without blocking each other or duplicating work.A design engineer and a procurement specialist work in parallel—one updates specs, the other adds cost rollups. They finalize the BOM together in a shared session, accelerating release.
Track Revisions and Approvals
Gain full control over what changes, when, and why—avoiding errors and ensuring compliance. Before sending the final BOM to manufacturing, the product owner reviews the latest changes, compares them with the previous release, and locks in the approved revision for production.
Conclusion: A New Generation of PDM
OpenBOM PDM is more than a file management tool. It’s a collaborative, connected, and cloud-native workspace that supports:
- Traditional file-based CAD workflows (SolidWorks, Altium)
- Modern cloud-native design tools (Onshape, Fusion, Altium 365)
- Structured, item-based product data and BOMs
- Real-time collaboration and change management
Whether you’re building robots, medical devices, consumer electronics, or heavy equipment, OpenBOM PDM adapts to your process, connects your tools, and brings clarity to your product data.
Ready to experience a new generation of PDM?
👉 Start your free trial at www.openbom.com or contact us for a live demo.
Best, Oleg
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