Ontology
In the context of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), ontology refers to a structured representation of knowledge about an organization's products, processes, and systems, enabling standardized data exchange and management across various stakeholders. Ontologies in PLM are typically based on industry-specific standards and vocabularies to facilitate interoperability and efficiency.
Why it matters
Ontology matters for PLM professionals and manufacturing engineers because it provides a shared understanding of product data structures, relationships, and semantics, enabling accurate data exchange, integration, and decision-making across the entire product lifecycle.
External References
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Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “Ontology.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/ontology