The missing link between product data management and organisational strategies

This article explores interrelationships between the concepts of Product Data Management (PDM), Enterprise Information Architecture (EIA), and enterprise IT strategy in process industries. The initial purpose of the study was to evaluate the capabilities of PDM development, as well as the existence of PDM strategy, to support the development and introduction of EIA in practice. However, the outcome of the study revealed an iterative relation between the concepts forming a hierarchically shaped value chain, here referred to as the PDM/EIA/strategy continuum, that helps in introducing organisational strategic objectives to operational levels as well as in communicating business needs to the top management level. Information drawn from the related literature, combined with reflections from the practitioners, can provide a number of meaningful insights in the use of the PDM/EIA/strategy continuum as a driving force for total information management through organised and real time vertical information sharing.