What is PLM?
Product lifecycle management software enables geographically dispersed, multidisciplinary teams to strategically collaborate with partners and customers using trusted, up-to-date product information.
Product lifecycle management is the foundation for a digital thread strategy, which enables product information to be available to the right people, at the right time, and in the right context to create new value for the organization. PLM also enables supply chain agility and business continuity.
Build a foundation for a wide range of new revenue growth and cost-saving opportunities with PTC’s out-of-the-box applications. Seamlessly integrate our PLM solutions with ERP, MES, CAD, AR, IoT technologies, and more.
PTC's product lifecycle management leadership
PTC's comprehensive PLM solution portfolio provides a foundation for the digital thread, speeds supply chain collaboration, ensures quality compliance, and drives Agile product development processes. PTC's PLM portfolio enables internal product teams and supply chain partners to design, manufacture, develop, deliver, and service products fast and effectively.
Whether you’re a startup, mid-sized, or Fortune 500 company—we have the right solution to meet your needs. PTC’s Windchill, Windchill+, Arena, and FlexPLM solutions bring your teams, product information, and processes together to help you introduce innovative products to market faster and more sustainably.
PTC is the only pure-play software company that can enable manufacturers to manage the entire lifecycle of the product, from the first draft of concept design to its last day of useful operation.
With a PLM system in place you create the foundation for the digital thread and provide all required stakeholders with access to the real-time data they need, when they need it.
PLM for sustainable engineering
Utilize the digital thread to make design decisions that support your sustainability initiatives. Making good design choices matters because 80% of a product's environmental impact is determined during the design phase. By combining design and engineering data from PLM with real data coming from the physical world via IoT, engineers can take the environmental impact of the processes and materials used to create the product into consideration. With PLM for sustainable engineering, you can maximize the value you deliver while minimizing the waste.
Product lifecycle management capabilities
BOM management
Get full digital associativity across engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, sales, and service.
Collaborative product development
Manage and execute complex product development projects with collaboration and workflow tools.
Engineering change management
Provide built-in governance and traceability for automated, accurate, and coordinated engineering change management.
IP security
Enable secure collaboration across the value chain by managing IP protection through enterprise digital rights management.
Manufacturing process management
Build and manufacture anywhere with a seamless flow of information between engineering and manufacturing.
Model-based systems engineering
Enable collaborative, innovative design and maintenance of complex systems.
Parts classification
Reduce product complexity and drive down costs with a classification strategy that ensures duplicate parts avoidance and greater reuse.
Product configuration management
Minimize the harmful impacts of product complexity by managing product configurations and data with a single source of truth.
Product data management
Enable global collaboration across concurrent design environments with a secure, tightly integrated, multi-CAD and product data management system.
Product variability management
Manage complex variants and configurations at scale.
Quality management
Build quality, reliability, safety, and process control into every part of the product lifecycle.
Requirements and test management
Create, structure, and validate complex product requirements across the engineering lifecycle.
Service process management
Establish a foundation for accurate and accessible service information.
Supply chain collaboration
Enable supplier collaboration with IP security so you can share design data and track deliverables to multiple projects around the globe.
Leaders using PLM to drive digital transformation
See how these global manufacturers are effectively using PLM to drive their digital transformation journey.
PTC's comprehensive PLM solution portfolio
PTC’s Windchill, Windchill+, Arena, and FlexPLM comprise a robust PLM solution portfolio. This digital thread foundation connects product information and processes to speed supply chain collaboration, ensure quality compliance, and drive agile product development processes.
PLM on-demand hub: Collaboration across the digital thread
Hear from global leaders like Bosch, Cellcentric, Vestas , and ZF about how they are utilizing the digital thread to connect their network of engineers and non-engineers across the organization.
Additional resources
Connected systems in discrete manufacturing
Learn how to align PLM, ERP, MES, and more to achieve digital transformation success.
Aberdeen report: Weaving quality into the digital thread
Learn how to ensure quality in complex, innovative engineering environments.
Analyst ranking of leading PLM vendors
Read the latest SPARK Matrix™ report and see why PTC has been recognized as a leader among PLM solution providers.
The seven building blocks of the digital thread
Gain insights into what the main building blocks are to a successful digital thread and how PLM is a key component.