Requirements Traceability
In Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Requirements Traceability refers to the systematic process of identifying, documenting, and linking product requirements to their corresponding design, development, and production activities. This ensures that all stakeholders can access and validate the relationship between requirements and deliverables throughout the product lifecycle.
In context
In an aerospace program, a safety requirement in DOORS is traced through the structural analysis in Nastran, the test case in Jama Connect ALM, and the manufacturing inspection step in the MES — so a change to the requirement immediately flags every downstream artifact that must be re-validated. Without this traceability, an approved engineering change can inadvertently invalidate a certification finding without anyone noticing until audit.
Why it matters
Requirements traceability is crucial for PLM professionals and manufacturing engineers as it ensures that all design changes, updates, and modifications are properly documented, tracked, and linked to their original requirements, enabling accurate decision-making, reduced errors, and improved product quality and reliability.
Related concepts
External References
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Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “Requirements Traceability.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/requirements-traceability