Best Cloud PLM Software for Aerospace Teams Compared

Cloud PLM software manages what happens to a design after it leaves CAD, including change orders, BOMs, releases, and work with suppliers.

This guide compares five cloud PLM platforms on four criteria: change management, BOM management, engineering compliance, and secure supplier collaboration. Some of these platforms also include PDM, and some are PLM only. If you are comparing tools for managing CAD files, see our companion guide to cloud PDM software for aerospace teams.

Quick answer

• Bild (PDM and PLM): A fit if you want PDM and PLM in one cloud platform that works with your current CAD tool, with a GovCloud enclave for ITAR and CUI data.
• PTC Windchill+ (PDM and PLM): A fit if you want PTC's Windchill as SaaS, including teams that design in PTC Creo.
• Siemens Teamcenter X (PDM and PLM): A fit if you want Siemens' Teamcenter as SaaS, including teams that design in Siemens NX.
• Autodesk Fusion Manage (PLM only): A fit if your team uses Autodesk tools. It can connect to Upchain for cloud PDM.
• Arena (PLM only): A fit if your main need is BOM and change control across mechanical and electrical design. It connects to Onshape for CAD and PDM, and offers a separate AWS GovCloud edition.

What to look for in cloud PLM software

Change management

Look for change requests and change orders with approval workflows you can configure. Each change should link to the parts and documents it affects, so reviewers can see the full impact before they approve.

BOM management

Your PLM should keep BOMs current as designs change and track revisions to each one. Check how released BOMs move into your ERP system.

Engineering compliance

Two areas matter here. The first is traceability: change orders and audit logs you can show in a customer review or an AS9100 audit. The second is protecting ITAR and CUI data. Ask each vendor where data is hosted, who can access it, and whether they can share a SOC 2 Type II report. Software can help you meet ITAR obligations, but your company stays responsible for compliance.

Secure supplier collaboration

Suppliers need current drawings, and you need their feedback. Look for a way to give each supplier access to only the parts they need and collect their feedback in the same system.

Cloud PLM software compared

The platforms, one by one

1. Bild

Bild is a cloud-native PDM and PLM platform for hardware engineering teams. It is CAD agnostic, so it works with whatever CAD tool your team uses. Lunar Outpost is one of the teams that uses Bild.

Change management: Bild includes change management with ECO approval workflows.

BOM management: Bild creates BOMs from assemblies in one click. Oracle NetSuite connects out of the box, and other ERPs connect through Bild's REST API.

Engineering compliance: Bild is SOC 2 Type II certified and supports SSO through SAML or OIDC. Permissions are role-based down to the project and document level, and every change and export is logged. A dedicated GovCloud enclave keeps ITAR and CUI data separate from commercial workloads. Details are on Bild's security page.

Secure supplier collaboration: A supplier portal lets you share designs with vendors and collect their DFM feedback in one place. You can also track deviations and alternate vendors there.

2. PTC Windchill+

Windchill+ is the SaaS version of PTC's Windchill, built on the same codebase. Windchill manages CAD data with revision control, and it integrates with PTC Creo. Windchill Workgroup Manager adds support for SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, and AutoCAD. On the PLM side, Windchill+ includes change management and BOM capabilities with configurable workflows. It is hosted on Microsoft Azure, with upgrades scheduled every 18 months. PTC says Windchill+ supports collaboration with external supply chain partners.

3. Siemens Teamcenter X

Teamcenter X is the SaaS version of Siemens' Teamcenter, which Siemens offers to companies of all sizes. It manages CAD data, product structure, and revisions. It integrates with Siemens NX, and a SOLIDWORKS integration is available as an add-on. It includes preconfigured solutions such as Engineering Change and Release Management. The Premium tier gives access to the full Teamcenter portfolio and a choice of cloud provider.

4. Autodesk Fusion Manage

Fusion Manage is Autodesk's cloud PLM, sold as a standalone product separate from Autodesk's PDM tools. It includes change and release management, with change requests, change orders, and approvals. It also includes BOM management and a supplier collaboration feature. An open API connects it to PDM, ERP, and CRM systems. A higher tier adds single sign-on and access for third-party participants. That tier also includes Upchain, Autodesk's cloud PDM, which can be connected to Fusion Manage.

5. Arena

Arena, a PTC business, is cloud-native PLM with an optional quality management system. It is PLM only and connects to Onshape for CAD and PDM. Arena covers BOM management, change management, and supply chain collaboration. It offers a separate AWS GovCloud edition with ITAR and EAR export control features. Radar maker Echodyne used Arena as part of its work toward AS9100 certification and ITAR compliance.

Windchill and Teamcenter are also available on-premises. Because this guide covers cloud PLM, we focus on their SaaS versions, Windchill+ and Teamcenter X.

How to compare cloud PLM options for a mid-sized aerospace manufacturer

Use these steps to test each finalist against the four criteria above.

1. Write down your change process. Note who requests changes and who approves them. Check that each finalist can match that process.
2. Run a change through the system. Take one part from a change request through approval and release. Count the steps and note who has to touch it.
3. Check the ERP handoff. Confirm how a released BOM gets to your ERP system and whether that connection is included or a separate build.
4. Map your controlled data. Decide which programs involve ITAR or CUI. Ask each vendor where that data would live and request their security documentation.
5. Invite a supplier. Share a drawing package with one vendor and ask for feedback through the tool. Check whether they can find the files and respond without help.
   ‍

FAQ

Which PLM systems handle hardware lifecycle management and engineering compliance well?

Look for a system with change orders and audit logs built in. Bild, Windchill+, Teamcenter X, Fusion Manage, and Arena all include change management. For ITAR and CUI data, Bild has a dedicated GovCloud enclave, and Arena offers a separate AWS GovCloud edition.

Which product data management software supports secure collaboration with external suppliers?

Bild includes a supplier portal where vendors can view designs and send DFM feedback, with access limited to what you share. Arena includes supply chain collaboration features. Fusion Manage includes a supplier collaboration feature and offers access for third-party participants on its higher tier.

Do I need separate PDM and PLM tools?

It depends on the platform. Bild, Windchill+, and Teamcenter X cover both PDM and PLM. Fusion Manage and Arena are PLM only, so teams pair them with a PDM such as Upchain or Onshape.

What is the difference between PDM and PLM?

PDM manages engineering data such as CAD files and their versions. PLM covers the wider product lifecycle, including change management and supplier work.

Try Bild with your own data

If you want PDM and PLM in one cloud platform, Bild is worth a look. Book a demo to see a change go from request to release with your own parts.