The following terms are commonly used in discussions about PLM, PDM, CAD, digital manufacturing, and related strategies and solutions. These terms cover all areas of PLM.
Let us know if there is a common PLM term that is missing from this glossary
See Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC)
A mechanism that detects some action or change in state of some object in the PDM system and as a result, may initiate some subsequent action such as sending...
It is important to note that PLM is not a definition of a piece, or pieces, of technology. It is a definition of a business approach to solving the problem of managing the complete set of...
CIMdata understands how important it is to keep up with PLM industry trends and information. With over 30 years of experience, CIMdata is in a unique position to be the most comprehensive source for all your PLM needs. Make CIMdata Resources your first and last stop for all things PLM. From whitepapers to commentaries; from news to events, CIMdata has everything you need.

PLM has been at the core of CIMdata’s business for over 30 years. During that time we have amassed invaluable intelligence that we...
For more information on the Circular Economy take a look at CIMdata's Essential Reading List.
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) has emerged as a strategy to support product and process development, enabled by software technology and services. Ideally, companies manage products from concept to retirement as part of their PLM strategy. Aiming to reduce the environmental impact of products in both production and in their use, sustainability has become a common rallying cry for manufacturers.
Great strides have been made in...
Providing Information Critical to Successful Strategies & Sound Business Decisions
CIMdata has assembled a group of leading industrial companies into a consortium to help address PLM-related challenges. Participation enables your organization to make better-informed business decisions by providing timely and valuable information, insights, and advice. It connects you to a network of companies with similar challenges around PLM and its use. Membership in CIMdata’s PLM Community Industry Consortium provides ongoing, subscription-based research and analyses delivered through reports, meetings, and remote consultations with CIMdata experts.
Providing Information Critical to Successful Strategies & Sound Business Decisions
Numerical control (NC), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and related solutions are key enabling technologies for advanced manufacturing. To support this market, CIMdata offers the NC Market Service which is focused solely on the worldwide NC software and related-services market.
Providing Intelligence Critical to Successful Strategies and Sound Business Decisions
The CIMdata PLM Gold Community program for software and service providers offers a valuable portfolio of professional services that enables your organization to make better-informed business decisions by providing timely and accurate market information, customer insights, strategic analysis, and management counsel about the local and global PLM market.
Providing Intelligence Critical to Successful Strategies and Sound Business Decisions
The CIMdata PLM Silver Community program provides a valuable portfolio of professional services that enables your organization to make better-informed business decisions by providing timely and accurate market information, customer insights, strategic analysis, and management counsel about the local and global PLM market.
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The CIMdata PLM Community Gold and Silver Solution Provider memberships provide ongoing, subscription-based research and analyses delivered through reports; remotte consultations with CIMdata experts; face-to-face briefings, and entry to at least one CIMdata event. Solution Provider membership in the CIMdata PLM Community is annual and available at two levels: Silver and Gold.
A daily electronic newsletter that provides up-to-the-minute information on market activities, products, events, sales announcements, and PLM solution providers...
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CIMdata offers industrial users, solution providers, and service providers, the opportunity to participate in one of our global PLM Communities. CIMdata communities help maximize the benefits you receive from PLM connecting you with like-minded PLM professionals who are eager to collaborate, and to define and share experiences and best practices.
The Digital Manufacturing Knowledge Council (DM Council) gathers and benchmarks best practices for integrating data, processes, tools, and people across the production environment. The program identifies and prioritizes requirements...
The Guide is designed to help potential PLM users evaluate the applicability and payoffs of PLM in their enterprise, and to help existing users of PLM monitor the impact it is having on their product programs.
A CIMdata administered PLM advocacy group for the A&D industry
The PLM MAR Series provides detailed information and in-depth analysis on the worldwide PLM market. It contains analyses of major trends and issues, leading PLM providers, revenue analyses for geographical regions and industry sectors, and historical and projected data on market growth.
These reports offer country-specific analyses of the PLM market. Their focus is on PLM investment and use in industrial markets. Reports cover Brazil, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
This report presents CIMdata’s overview of the global simulation and analysis market, one of the fastest growing segments of the overall product lifecycle management market, including profiles of the leading S&A firms.
CIMdata's definitive guide to the worldwide CAM software and services market. This comprehensive report provides critical intelligence on market size, user expenditures, trends, and segmentation, alongside authoritative rankings of the top CAM solution providers and reseller revenues.