Predator PDM is a paperless manufacturing driven Production Data Management tool. The software is designed to organize and control many facets of the shop floor.

CNC programs, setup sheets, safety procedures, quality documents, and others are under your control. Supports paperless shop floor operation with integration for CNC Communications and Machine Monitoring.

Predator PDM controls manufacturing driven processes and best practice workflows from manufacturing, quality, programming and other areas to the shop floor. 

Only the approved, released and authorized files are delivered to the shop floor operators and setup personnel to ensure the proven files are machines.  For ISO9000, ITAR, and other standards demanded by customers, Predator PDM is a solution to meet the manufacturing document control requirements.

Predator PDM supports an unlimited number of documents and support for numerous file types to be managed and viewed on the shop floor.

With the built-in viewing capability from Microsoft Internet Explorer, Predator leverages the built-in plug-in viewers supported and allows for continued upgrade path as new versions of file types are released.

For example, if Adobe released a new format or version of PDFs, Predator automatically embraces this compatibility with the new plug-ins from Internet Explorer.  A variety of files are supported for document control such as: Word, Excel, PDF, NC, TXT, STL, MPEG, TIFF. JPEG, and hundreds more.

As a manufacturer, you need to abide by legal code 21 CFR 820.40 – establishing and maintaining procedures to control documents (more info). As a business, you need to keep tax documents and any related records for anywhere from three to seven years. Employment records need to be kept for a minimum of a year and payroll records kept a minimum of three years.

There are over 140 permissions for control and management of who has access to files, approval process, released, un-released, rollback or pending files.

All security follows Microsoft standards for assigning permissions to users and groups.  Two versions of Predator PDM are available for purchase, PDM Administrator, and PDM Client.  Predator PDM Administrator allows for all control, configuration, and assignment of the security roles.

Yes. Predator PDM Client is used to view the proven, released and authorized manufacturing documents to the shop floor operator and setup users.  Once a user logs into Predator PDM with the username and password, the documents are displayed on the shop floor PC.

The operator can then deliver the NC program to the CNC machine via Predator DNC Software as well as collect real-time data on machine utilization from Predator Machine Monitoring Software.  Any other files related to the part can be viewed on the shop floor terminal providing a paperless environment.

Most revision control software packages use a database for the backend to store “links” or flags to shared files and reference the actual file.  The problem with this system is that while you might have the NC program and can place it in a database for check-in and check-out, there is no control with these systems. Whoever saves the file last wins!

Most revision control software packages use a database for the backend to store “links” or flags to shared files and reference the actual file.  The problem is that while you might have the NC program and can place it in a database for check-in and check-out, there is no control with this system. Whoever saves the file last wins!

With a true PDM system, complete revision control, lockout, and access only can be obtained by a single user until completed.  This eliminates changes of multiple file revisions – they will be unapproved.

More on Predator PDM:

  • Paperless manufacturing-driven Production Data Management
  • Designed to organize & control CNC programs
  • Master your setup sheets, safety procedures, quality documents, & more
  • Complete revision control
  • Integration with DNC, CNC Editor, Virtual CNC, MDC & Tracker.

Predator PDM includes best practice workflow wizards for release, unreleased, revise, rollback, check-in, and check out. Every wizard honors user and group permissions and includes ISO 9000-style history.

Yes, as long as you have the permission setup for each user. If you need more help with setting up your Predator PDM software, contact us.

If you want a paperless manufacturing shop floor, Predator PDM will help you accomplish this goal.

Within Predator PDM, you will be able to pull up your Job and any file that connects to that job. PDF’s, SolidWorks, eDrawings, MS office files, and images.