CIMdata review on SAP's PLM cPDm program (PDF) - Large ...

Figure 14-Lifecycle Profitability Management
The mySAP PLM advanced distribution capability
addresses specific problems relating to what data
should be given to which site, how complete the data
needs to be (e.g., the remote site may already have
some of the information), and what configuration baselines
need to be managed.
Although the concept of controlled distribution managed
by a cPDm solution is not new, <strong>CIMdata</strong> is impressed
with the approach taken by SAP as they have positioned
it within the configuration management domain.
Data translation facilities allow data that was created in
one application to be converted automatically for use in
another application given that the appropriate translators
are available. These translations can be event based
(i.e., triggered by the workflow system).
mySAP PLM's Business API's (BAPIs) and the CAD
Interface are available to receive and import data from
any source (please refer to the section on Application
Integration for additional information). This allows an
external program to communicate synchronously and
asynchronously with an mySAP PLM instance by
packaging objects, including parts (material masters),
documents, notification objects, etc., in the appropriate
format and transferring them to and from the mySAP
PLM solution.
mySAP PLM provides support for
the STEP standard. SAP has implemented
STEP Application Protocol
214 with the conformance class
AP214 CC6 Automotive – product
data management without shape
definition. In addition, SAP ensures
compatibility with the PDM Schema
1.1 as defined by PDES Inc. and
ProSTEP GmbH.
<strong>CIMdata</strong> is pleased to see that SAP is
providing support for STEP; furthermore,
we are impressed that they
have built mySAP PLM applications,
such as the Product Variant
Structure (PVS), using a data model
that supports STEP. STEP holds the
promise of reducing the need for
point-to-point translators between
applications in the future. Many
cPDm solution providers and secondary
suppliers to the cPDm industry are very active
in researching this topic and are starting to deliver
STEP AP-based interfaces.
Communication and Notification
In many cases, it is convenient and efficient to have the
cPDm solution automatically send messages to users
when certain types of events occur. Examples of these
events include:
• Notification of when data, copied from a vault by a
user, has been changed by another user
• Automatic reminder to a checker that the <strong>review</strong> of
a document is overdue
• Indicating to a group of users when a new version
of design information has been released
mySAP PLM supports a number of communication
mechanisms which are integrated across the mySAP.com
e-business platform. The most notable mechanisms
include SAP's workflow system, the capabilities found
in the new distribution and mobile engineering modules,
and the automatic content push capabilities supported
by the enterprise portal solution.
Mail features also take benefit from the Easy View
interface approach where inbox, outbox, message logs,
errors, and viewing panels are combined into one
screen. mySAP PLM provides its own internal e-mail
<strong>CIMdata</strong> Program Assessment SAP’s mySAP PLM Page 31