The goals of product data management include ensuring all stakeholders share a common understanding, that confusion during the execution of the processes is minimized, and that the highest standards of quality controls are maintained.
Within PDM the focus is on managing and tracking the creation, change, and archive of all information related to a product.
The information being stored and managed (on one or more file servers) will include engineering data such as computer-aided design (CAD) models, drawings, and their associated documents.
Early Product data management software was developed and used internally at some organizations, such as NASA and Boeing's IPAD or Ford Motor Company's PDGS.
The first Product data management software on the open market was Sherpaworks by Sherpa, released in 1984.