CAD
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is software used to create, modify, and document 2D drawings and 3D models of physical products. CAD is the primary authoring tool in engineering — the place where geometry is defined, tolerances are set, and part structure is first established. Modern CAD systems include CATIA, NX, Creo, SolidWorks, and Onshape. CAD produces the geometry files and assembly models that PLM systems manage as the starting artifact of the product lifecycle.
Why it matters
CAD is where the product is born digitally. Every downstream system — PDM, PLM, simulation, manufacturing, quality — depends on a governed, versioned record of what the CAD model says. CAD-PLM integration is the most critical and most frequently broken interface in manufacturing IT.
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Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “CAD.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/cad