Product data modeling and business

Summary form only given as follows. This paper considers the development of product data modeling and its implementation in the business enterprise. PDM is only one of many technologies that have been developed to assist in the management of engineering information and although some success has been achieved many organizations are having difficulties in obtaining the maximum benefit. This may be due to our lack of understanding of the problem or the crudeness of the technologies, but it is suggested that this may be remedied by considering the place of the technology in the whole of the enterprise information system and developing an enterprise wide information strategy. Two case studies are used for illustration and proposals for further research made.