Client Profile — PT Pindad (Persero), Special Vehicle Division

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PT Pindad (Persero) is a leading Indonesian defense and manufacturing company, producing specialized vehicles, weapon systems, and industrial products. The Special Vehicle Division designs and develops a wide range of complex vehicles — from armored personnel carriers to specialized tactical vehicles — requiring precise engineering data, extensive documentation, and structured collaboration across design, simulation, and manufacturing teams.

 

Business Needs

 

Growing Complexity in Engineering Data

As product designs became more complex and the volume of engineering files increased, PT Pindad’s Special Vehicle Division needed a centralized system to manage CAD data, drawings, and documentation across the entire engineering lifecycle.

 

Key Operational Requirements

• Standardized workflows for reviewing and approving 2D documentation, simulation data, and 3D models

• Consistent metadata management across parts, assemblies, and drawings

• Automated Bill of Materials (BOM) generation and synchronization

• Centralized data storage with version control and traceability

• A scalable foundation for future integration with procurement and broader enterprise processes

 

Challenges Faced

 

Limitations in Existing Data Management

Before implementing SOLIDWORKS PDM, engineering data was distributed across multiple locations with no centralized control. This created risks such as using outdated drawings, difficulty tracking design revisions, and time-consuming manual BOM compilation.

 

Critical Areas for Improvement

• No standardized workflow for design review, approval, and release processes

• Inconsistent properties and metadata across CAD files

• Manual and error-prone preparation of Part, Assembly, and Drawing documentation

• Lack of structured BOM management linking design data to procurement and production planning

 

The Solution — SOLIDWORKS PDM

 

Why SOLIDWORKS PDM?

PT Grand Asia Technology recommended SOLIDWORKS PDM as the ideal platform — fully integrated with SOLIDWORKS design tools, capable of automating workflows, standardizing data cards, and managing BOMs centrally. It provides the control, traceability, and scalability required for complex engineering projects.

 

Scope of Configuration

The project covered complete configuration tailored to PT Pindad’s needs:

Workflow Configuration

• First Workflow — Configured for 2D documentation and simulation data

• Second Workflow — Configured for 3D model data

Data Card Setup

1. Part Data Card

2. Part Assembly Data Card

3. Drawing — Part Data Card

4. Drawing — Assembly Data Card

5. Variable & Property Mapping

6. PDM Bill of Materials (BOM) Configuration

 

Implementation Process

 

Schedule & Location

• Dates: February 19–20, 2024

• Time: 10:30 – 16:40

• Venue: Meeting Room, IT Division — PT Pindad

• Participants: PT Grand Asia Technology (Technical & Sales Teams) + PT Pindad (IT & Special Vehicle Division Engineering Teams)

 

Day 1 — Workflow Design & Configuration

On February 19, the teams collaborated to define and configure PDM workflows aligned with PT Pindad’s engineering review processes. Two distinct workflows were established — one for 2D documentation and simulation, and one for 3D model management — ensuring design data follows the correct review, approval, and release path.

 

Day 2 — Data Cards, Variables & BOM Setup

On February 20, the team configured all required Data Cards for Parts, Assemblies, and Drawings, including variable mapping and BOM structures. Every component was set up to automatically populate properties from the PDM vault into drawing formats. The configuration was fully completed and ready for data population.

 

Consultation & Next Steps

• Design Review Session: Shared engineering design challenges and discussed improvements with Special Vehicle Division engineers

• Recommendation: Conduct a trial period before full deployment — validating that all templates and variables match daily engineering requirements

• Upcoming Phases:

  • Session 3: Evaluation and refinement based on trial use

  • Session 4: Procurement / Supply Chain integration — expanding user access across departments

  • Session 5: Finalization and full PDM launch for Special Vehicle Division

 

 Results & Benefits

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Configuration & Proficiency Gained

 Two standardized PDM workflows configured (2D/Simulation + 3D)

 Four Data Cards configured (Part, Assembly, Drawing-Part, Drawing-Assembly)

 Variables and BOM fully configured and linked to PDM metadata

 System validated and ready for engineering data population

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Operational Improvements Achieved

 Centralized vault with consistent properties across all CAD files

 Automated metadata flow — drawings update automatically from PDM data

 Standardized BOM generation directly from the vault

 Foundation established for traceability, version control, and multi-department collaboration

 Clear roadmap for trial, expansion to Procurement, and full implementation

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Conclusion & Value Delivered

"Beyond system configuration, this project established a standardized, traceable foundation for engineering data management at PT Pindad’s Special Vehicle Division. By aligning PDM workflows, data cards, and BOM structures with actual engineering processes, we’ve created a scalable platform that will improve design accuracy, reduce manual work, and enable seamless collaboration across engineering, procurement, and production."

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Project Status: Configuration Complete • Ready for Trial Use • Roadmap Established for Full-Scale Rollout