As we think about how hardware collaboration has changed, we start to notice the different stakeholders involved in the decision making process. Oftentimes, people believe that tools like SolidWorks are primarily used by mechanical engineers. While mechanical engineers may engage in CAD design tools, there are many more individuals that…

If you are a SolidWorks user, you have likely explored a variety of products from Dassault Systems, including SolidWorks PDM. SolidWorks PDM is a great way to manage design data across multiple collaborators. It ensures that designs in progress do not get overridden, introduces version control, and manages high level…

For several years, GrabCAD has offered a CAD storage platform called Workbench which is used by small hardware teams, university organizations, high school teams, and hobbyists. GrabCAD describes Workbench as “the CAD collaboration tool that works the way engineers do.” …

Deciding on a PDM consists of a variety of different factors. Most companies will look at “steady-state” use, the normal ins and outs of PDM. However, they often neglect the early parts of PDM: data migration, learning curves, and workflow changes. Data migration Most companies that think about moving to…

It’s no secret that the world loves hardware — announcements about new products garner countless news articles, tweets, and long lines at stores on opening days. To stay relevant in today’s industry, hardware companies need to keep up with customer’s demanding expectations while navigating the pandemic’s unfamiliar workflows and facing…

As hardware teams build out their software tools setup, many consider both PDM (Product Data Management) and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems. However, the difference between these systems is not always clear. …

Product data management (PDM) is a common tool used by hardware teams to help manage and organize design files. Traditionally, PDM systems have helped solve version control, single-source-of-truth, and concurrent designing needs. In an industry where most software tools are 3 letter acronyms (PLM, PDM, ERP, MES, etc), it can…

Hardware teams want to make decisions which improve their product and enable it to get to market as quickly and cost-efficiently as possible. Design engineers need input from the rest of their team and other teams in order to do this. In an ideal world, a product could be designed…

As more startups and crowdfunded products challenge established hardware companies, we’re constantly seeing new, innovative products brought to market. Technology is moving faster than ever, and the hardware industry is no exception. But what about the people behind the tech? Engineering and product design teams know full well that success…