Common pitfalls when connecting your CAD vault to your ERP system — and how to fix them before they snowball.
We've audited dozens of ERP/PDM integrations across manufacturing companies. The same five mistakes show up almost every time.
1. Duplicate Part Numbers — When engineers create parts in the PDM vault and purchasing creates them again in the ERP, you end up with two records for the same part. The fix: a single source of truth with automated sync.
2. BOM Mismatch — The engineering BOM in your CAD system rarely matches the manufacturing BOM in your ERP. Map the translation rules explicitly and automate the conversion.
3. No Lifecycle States — Parts go from "In Work" to "Released" with no formal gate. This means purchasing orders material against unfinished designs. Implement lifecycle states with approval workflows.
4. Manual Data Entry — If someone is typing part properties from a CAD model into an ERP screen, errors are guaranteed. Automate property mapping between systems.
5. Ignoring Revision Control — When an ECO changes a part, the ERP needs to know. Without automated revision sync, the shop builds the wrong version. We've seen this cost companies six figures in scrap.
The common thread: automation and clear data governance. If you're fighting any of these issues, we can help map out a fix — usually in a single discovery session.
