PROSTEP introduces an API for the DIgital Thread.

1. PROSTEP INC
300 Park Street Suite 410 Birmingham, MI 48009
Telephone: +1 877-678-3701 Fax: +1 877-678-3702 Email: Infocenter@prostep.com www.prostep.us
Because new technologies and siloed data located in
different systems bring complexity and challenges,
preparation and a solid roadmap of the future is necessary.
Without such preparation, product development inevitably
faces the following:
• Data stored in multiple systems leads to inefficient traceability
• Manual traceability is a tremendous time and cost investment
• Increased risks of accuracy of duplicated data to each system
• Point-to-point solutions do not scale and become unmanageable
• Full centralization of data locks you to a platform
• Data duplication comes with data model compatibility issues, data
mastery issues, and synchronization
• Products take longer time to get to the market
• Wider distribution of product developers in suppliers
• Increasing use of software
• Larger volume of components
• More computer aided analysis for more purposes
• More domain and organizational complexity
• More technical delivery packages
• More "cumulative" risk from inputs
• Expense of re-authoring
• Time and information loss of manual process
• Data preservation for sustainability
• Knowledge retainment and acquisition
API for the Digital Thread
Guide to Enable the Digital Thread
Introduction
Traditional views of large enterprise development see information siloed throughout different departments. A
change occurring in the design can have significant impact on time and costs if not reflected throughout the
product's lifecycle. Throughout industries, cross-company collaboration (internal and external) is complex and brings
a number of challenges for each entity in the product life cycle process. Integrating, synchronizing, and managing
development data throughout the product development process becomes difficult from the ever-growing, complex
environments comprised of siloed systems. When you add the rapid acceleration of technology advancements such
as Industry 4.0, IoT, blockchain, and others to the development process, more challenges and complications occur.
As a result, companies find it difficult to manage and maintain their product data as well as stay competitive with the
changing pace of technology.
Discover the communication framework built to integrate product data from disparate systems and help provide a
complete view of your systems in its entirety. A complete set of tools to help you get products to the market faster
while saving costs , reducing rework, and saving time.
PROSTEP's API for the Digital Thread is the platform to enable your digital thread.
Added Complexity Requires the Digital Thread

2. Digital Thread Roadmap
Implementing the digital thread requires you to view product development from concept, development, manufacturing and end-of-life.
The digital thread, a traceable communication framework to enable seamless product data management throughout a product's life
cycle, helps to give a complete holistic record of the system in its entirety. It equips you with the ability to understand how changes in
one system can affect changes in another. Leveraging the digital thread shows traceability, dependency validation and automated
synchronization between systems. The digital thread helps keep your company efficient and competitive in a changing marketplace.
A variety of use cases exist for the digital thread:
• PLM to ERP synchronization - most enterprises do this, and it is a foundational step
• Replication of design to analysis data management system
• Replication of technical data to external systems and partners
• Model Based System Engineering (MBSE)validation links for traceability
• Enterprise change dependency traceability
• IoT/Industry 4.0 product data and manufacturing enhancement feedback
Each enterprise has different requirements.
PROSTEP has the flexibility, toolset, and knowledge to help you extend past these examples to your use case
PROSTEP INC
300 Park Street Suite 410 Birmingham, MI 48009
Telephone: +1 877-678-3701 Fax: +1 877-678-3702 Email: Infocenter@prostep.com www.prostep.us
Enabling end-to-end digital transformation and connectivity is the purpose of PROSTEP's API for the Digital Thread. Utilizing the
toolset bridges the gap between the preceding challenges. The platform provides complete system interoperability, collaboration
and data exchange, enabling the communication framework and optimizing the product life cycle processes.
Success is determined by the ability to efficiently manage all moving parts.
Each component of PROSTEP's API for the Digital Thread not only optimizes your processes but also extends product data back into
your Product Development and Manufacturing systems to close the loop and drive your company's innovation.
• lack of collaboration between departments
• limited visibility into manufacturing metrics
• poor communication from disparate systems and data sources
Challenges to Overcome for Digital Thread Implementation
Industries such as aerospace, automotive and shipbuilding continue to grow adding complexity to regulations and evolving business
models. In a recent survey conducted by an advisory firm in digital transformation, challenges to implement the digital thread
included:

3. Link Data from Disparate Systems and Enable Traceability to Prevent Rework
A Complete Platform for Transforming an Enterprise Utilizing Existing Systems
Today's multi-system engineering environments give rise to complex challenges for
managing massive amounts of data. Integrating, synchronizing and managing
development data throughout the supply chain with traditional tools and processes can
be overwhelming. The ability to handle cross -platform information is vital to a
company’s success. Not being able to efficiently integrate with future manufacturing
capabilities like smart connected products could lead to increased product errors
and a slower move to market. This would obviously drive up costs for effort and
redesign.
System interoperability helps alleviate the challenge of connecting the disparate
systems of vendors, suppliers, and outside entities. From concept to final product,
the OpenPDM platform dynamically extends the capabilities of your PLM. Vendor
neutral connectors enable you to connect your data with leading PLM, ALM, ERP
and other systems. Our scalable architecture provides integration solutions of
varying degrees of complexity. You can connect your PLM with 2 or more systems
allowing customers, suppliers and vendors worldwide to map your PLM data
throughout different systems.
OpenPDM is a proven and highly reliable solution that can be launched in a very
short time. All OpenPDM connections and functions are immediately available - even
highly customized OpenPDM solutions. More than 90% of standard product
functionality can be used after install.
• Get products to market faster and more efficiently with system
interoperability, which enables sharing of product data regardless of
corporate borders, system vendors, and differing domains and disciplines
• Standard connectors ensure quick deployment with proven and reliable
integration and immediate ROI
• Scalable for future endeavors: Connect two systems or multiple systems,
upgrade your system, or completely migrate to a new PLM
• Enjoy increased confidence with correct system mapping and traceability of
attributes from leading PLM systems
"...together with consultants from
PROSTEP, we have already developed
a concept showing how we can use
PLM to provide optimum support for
our new product engineering process,
what tasks need to be completed at a
given level of maturity, and what work
packages result from this..."
Matthias Steinman, Manager
Central R&D Services at Karcher
PROSTEP INC
300 Park Street Suite 410 Birmingham, MI 48009
Telephone: +1 877-678-3701 Fax: +1 877-678-3702 Email: Infocenter@prostep.com www.prostep.us
Complete System Interoperability
for the Digital Thread

4. Secure Data Exchange Transfer Throughout Your Enterprise with BLOCKCHAIN
Typically, to securely exchange your sensitive corporate data through internal and
external domains, you would use a third-party hosting file service, a simple mail transfer
protocol (SMTP), or file transfer protocol (FTP). Unfortunately, the convenience of
these methods comes with potential security drawbacks, control and transparency
dangers, and the potential for data breaches and hefty fines.
PROSTEP INC technology partner IBM has shown that the cost of a data breach for 2018
is 6.4% higher than 2017. A data breach within your company could cost $3.86 million.1
If you’re still using outdated, unsecure methods to transfer data outside your
enterprise, then you’re in the right place.
You want a data exchange process with the highest security protocols, where
absolutely ZERO training is required. You want to be 100% confident that your data is
encrypted and secure at rest and during transmission. You want to easily send your
intellectual property to the right users at the right time with high speed, automated and
integrated process with PLM, email, or OS desktop integration.
PROSTEP's OpenDXM GlobalX server software is your answer. It is the enterprise data
exchange for the future.
• Know that your corporate data is safe and secure with encryption at rest
and during transmission.
• Start use immediately with ZERO training required.
• Easily share outside your enterprise with drag and drop functions
• Feel confident in your company's growth with our scalable software
architecture
• Stay up-to-date with the highest security protocols - Now BLOCKCHAIN
enabled
"We are thus showing our customers
just how seriously we take the subject
of data security and that their data is
in good hands."
.. a r
r
PROSTEP AG
PROSTEP INC
300 Park Street Suite 410 Birmingham, MI 48009
Telephone: +1 877-678-3701 Fax: +1 877-678-3702 Email: Infocenter@prostep.com www.prostep.us
Next Generation Data Exchange
for the Digital Thread

5. Communicate Product Manufacturing Information (PMI), Complex
Data, Workflows in an Interactive and data-rich 3D PDF
Engineering environments utilize numerous partners, developers, and suppliers. This makes
it difficult to effectively communicate product development data between domains. Sending
this information to your team and outside entities can mean inefficient and unsecured
archiving of product data – which could lead to data breaches and steep fines. Additionally,
the lengthy and time-consuming effort needed to create paper-based instruction manuals
and workflows results in even more time and money spent to correct errors.
With PROSTEP's 3D PDF Technology toolset, you can easily illustrate your product
information and securely transfer your product data. PROSTEP’s software allows you to
visually depict and securely share your intellectual property both internally and externally in
any domain through Digital Rights Management. It also allows you to show complex
engineering data with product manufacturing information (PMI) for use in technical data
packages (TDP), ensuring that only the correct individual sees each piece of information. The
PROSTEP toolset provides the ability to create animated brochures, work instructions,
maintenance manuals, sales and marketing material, and manufacturing workflows, allowing
users to interact with your data in a variety of use cases.
Designed to satisfy both inexperienced and veteran users, our server and client toolset can
easily generate interactive 3D PDFs. All interactive 3D PDFs can be read in the freely
distributed Adobe Reader®.
PROSTEP INC
300 Park Street Suite 410 Birmingham, MI 48009
Telephone: +1 877-678-3701 Fax: +1 877-678-3702 Email: Infocenter@prostep.com www.prostep.us
Advanced Communication
for the Digital Thread
D. Ewing, Manager,
B/E Aerospace
"With 3D PDF, we save thousands
of dollars by not having to
purchase additional CAD
software and translators... We can
work faster because we know that
we can efficiently handle any file
that we receive."
• Securely share your data both internally and externally in any domain with
Digital Rights Management
• Start creating immediately as our software is built for users of all ability
levels
• Easy to read and share with the free Adobe Reader®
Server Tools Client Tools
F R E E T R I A L A V A I L A B L E

6. Use Cases
PROSTEP INC
300 Park Street Suite 410 Birmingham, MI 48009
Telephone: +1 877-678-3701 Fax: +1 877-678-3702 Email: Infocenter@prostep.com www.prostep.us
3DEXPERIENCE Introduction and Interface to SAP
VPM EOL Migration to Teamcenter 10

7. Use Cases
PROSTEP INC
300 Park Street Suite 410 Birmingham, MI 48009
Telephone: +1 877-678-3701 Fax: +1 877-678-3702 Email: Infocenter@prostep.com www.prostep.us
Smarteam to Windchill Migration
Windchill to Winchill Migration and Synchonization

8. Use Cases
PROSTEP INC
300 Park Street Suite 410 Birmingham, MI 48009
Telephone: +1 877-678-3701 Fax: +1 877-678-3702 Email: Infocenter@prostep.com www.prostep.us
Joint Car Development with Chinese Joint Venture
Company
PLM Data Exchange with Partners

9. Use Cases
PROSTEP INC
300 Park Street Suite 410 Birmingham, MI 48009
Telephone: +1 877-678-3701 Fax: +1 877-678-3702 Email: Infocenter@prostep.com www.prostep.us
Company
Challenge Results
Analysis
Company
Challenge Results
Analysis
3D PDF Electronic Service Manuals
Standardized Downstream Product Details

10. Why Enable PROSTEP's API for the Digital Thread?
Ultimately enabling the digital thread yields improved communication throughout the development life cycle. Product data
that is synchronized and available to all parties involved results in substantial benefits:
• reduced errors and defects
• faster time to market
• shorter manufacturing cycle
• improved product performance
• increased customer satisfaction
• improved cross-department / domain collaboration
As more companies adopt new technologies, enabling your digital thread has become an essential component in remaining
competitive in a rapidly changing technological environment. PROSTEP's API for the digital thread provides you with the toolset to
enable integration, improved data exchange and collaboration - the digital thread.
Trusted By the Best:
API for the Digital Thread
PROSTEP INC
300 Park Street Suite 410 Birmingham, MI 48009
Telephone: +1 877-678-3701 Fax: +1 877-678-3702 Email: Infocenter@prostep.com www.prostep.us

11. Enable your digital thread with our core solution set for integration, data exchange, and
collaboration. PROSTEP's product suite enables the integration of product data into all
phases of the life cycle.
Are you ready to move towards digitalization at your company? Get started with an
initial consultation/demo for your use case... a no risk, no obligation chance to see what
PROSTEP can do for you.
Technology Partners
API for Digital Thread Toolkit
• Get products to market faster and more
efficiently with system interoperability across
corporate borders
• Securely collaborate and transfer data
outside your enterprise
• Share complex data, workflows, manuals,
technical data packages and more in an
interactive 3D PDF
PROSTEP API for the Digital Thread
• Over 25 Years Experience
• 250+ Employees
• 9 Locations Worldwide
• More than 500 Customers
• Top Shareholders:
Why PROSTEP
PROSTEP INC
300 Park Street Suite 410 Birmingham, MI 48009
Telephone: +1 877-678-3701 Fax: +1 877-678-3702 Email: Infocenter@prostep.com www.prostep.us