Managing Complex Systems – Challenges for PDM and SCM

Abstract

Software is being increasingly incorporated in increasingly extensive industrial and other applications. There is a demand for total control of entire applications including their software components. A consequence of this is that the development procedure, production operations and maintenance, previously separate processes, are being integrated in comprehensive process systems. In the integration of these processes, many difficulties are encountered because of different natures of the processes and the different approaches made to the problem. In the integration process, many activities overlap and much data is duplicated, this making a complex process even more complex. Software Configuration Management (SCM) and Product Data Management (PDM) which are used to solve similar problems in different ways are examples of overlapping processes. Attempts to integrate SCM and PDM systems to obtain a more efficient development process have not proved particularly successful. This paper analyses the main characteristics of SCM and PDM, development processes that are PDM- or SCM-centered, their common characteristics and their differences. The problems encountered when using both systems are analyzed. An analysis of possible integration of these systems is presented and the potential benefits of and problems involved in such integration are discussed. Keywords: Software Configuration Management, Product Data Management, Development process, tool and process integration Categories: Software Configuration Management, Product Data Management, Development process. Managing Complex Systems -- Challenges for PDM and SCM Ivica Crnkovic Mlardalen University Software Engineering Dept. 721 23 Vsters, Sweden ivica.crnkovic@mdh.se Annita Persson Dahlkvist Ericsson Microwave Sy...