Strategic collaboration between Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers is a key success factor in modern manufacturing. Increasing product complexity, shorter development cycles, and global supply chains require seamless data exchange, standardized processes, and secure collaboration across company boundaries.

PROSTEP supports OEMs and suppliers with specialized solutions that enable efficient, secure, and scalable collaboration, without forcing partners to give up their established systems or processes. By combining standardized dataconversion with controlled cross-company collaboration platforms, PROSTEP helps organizations reduce complexity, improve quality, and accelerate innovation across distributed development networks.

Beyond classical OEM–supplier collaboration, cooperation between multiple brands within an OEM group is becoming increasingly important. PROSTEP solutions enable OEM-to-OEM collaboration while preserving autonomy, intellectual property protection, and process sovereignty for each participating organization.

OEMs and suppliers often operate in heterogeneous IT landscapes with different CAD, PLM, and process standards. Manual data preparation, repeated conversions, and ad-hoc coordination lead to errors, delays, and high operational effort.

PROSTEP addresses these challenges with three complementary solutions:

  • OpenDESC, a cloud-based CAD conversion service that ensures supplier data complies with OEM-specific standards and delivery requirements
  • OpenPDM CCenter, a central collaboration platform that enables controlled data sharing and coordination between brands within an OEM group
  • OpenDXM GlobalX, a secure data exchange platform, is available as a SaaS solution that can be established in minutes, or a tightly integrated directly to your engineering systems (PLM) or individual users.

All solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly into existing system landscapes while establishing a standardized, secure collaboration layer across organizational boundaries.

Cost Efficiency

Standardized processes and automated data handling reduce manual effort, rework, and operational costs across the supply chain.

Innovation Acceleration

Efficient collaboration enables faster development cycles and supports cross-company innovation initiatives.

Quality and Compliance

Consistent data standards and controlled collaboration ensure high data quality and compliance with OEM requirements.

Standardized Data Exchange

Automated conversion and validation ensure that exchanged data meets OEM-specific requirements.

Secure Collaboration

Controlled access, IP protection, and traceability ensure secure collaboration across company boundaries.

Scalable Partner Integration

New partners, brands, or suppliers can be onboard quickly without disrupting existing systems or processes.

PROSTEP OpenDXM GlobalX is a highly secure and scalable platform for automated and manual data exchange across company boundaries. Whether users transfer data personally or integrate OpenDXM GlobalX into their enterprise systems, the solution ensures seamless, encrypted, and traceable collaboration.

OpenDXM GlobalX provides:

  • maximum data security through end-to-end encryption
  • controlled and auditable data exchange processes
  • flexible integration into PDM/PLM, ERP or engineering applications
  • automated system-to-system data transfers
  • simple and intuitive user access for manual file exchange

The solution is designed for organizations that require secure, compliant, and efficient data exchange - from engineering and manufacturing to suppliers, partners, and customers. OpenDXM GlobalX supports global collaboration, high-volume data transfers, and strict security and compliance requirements.

Learn more about PROSTEP OpenDXM GlobalX

PROSTEP OpenDESC is a cloud-based service for automated CAD data conversion according to OEM-specific delivery standards. Suppliers upload CAD data in their native formats, while OpenDESC converts and validates the data according to defined OEM rules.

The service ensures:

  • consistent CAD data quality
  • compliance with OEM delivery specifications
  • reduced manual conversion effort for suppliers
  • faster and more reliable data handover

OpenDESC is especially suited for automotive OEM–supplier collaboration, where strict CAD standards and data quality requirements apply.

Learn more about PROSTEP OpenDESC

PROSTEP OpenPDM CCenter is a central collaboration platform designed for distributed development across multiple brands within an OEM group. It enables controlled sharing of product data between organizations while allowing each brand to retain its own systems, processes, and governance.

Key capabilities include:

  • central access to shared components and product data
  • automated extraction, conversion, and synchronization of PLM and CAD data
  • secure collaboration outside individual PLM systems
  • simplified partner onboarding and disengagement

OpenPDM CCenter supports both online and offline access and includes coordination functions such as version control, workflows, and change management. Optional project management features enable task distribution, deadline tracking, and resource coordination across organizations.

Learn more about PROSTEP OpenPDM CCenter

OEM and supplier collaboration requires a careful balance between transparency and protection of intellectual property. PROSTEP solutions establish a secure collaboration layer that enables data sharing while maintaining strict access control and governance.

OpenDESC and OpenPDM CCenter ensure that only validated, approved data is exchanged and that ownership and responsibilities remain clearly defined across organizational boundaries.

A key success factor for cross-company collaboration is the ability to preserve existing system landscapes and processes. PROSTEP solutions do not require partners to migrate or harmonize their internal environments.

Instead, they act as a neutral collaboration layer that connects heterogeneous systems and organizations - enabling standardization where required, while maintaining flexibility and independence internally.

OEM and supplier collaboration is particularly critical in automotive, industrial manufacturing, and complex product development environments.

PROSTEP solutions are designed to:

  • scale across global supplier networks
  • support strict OEM standards and quality requirements
  • handle large volumes of CAD and product data
  • ensure traceability and auditability

This makes OpenDESC and OpenPDM CCenter proven solutions for large-scale, long-term collaboration programs.

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Let’s Talk About OEM and Supplier Collaboration

With PROSTEP OEM and Supplier Solutions, organizations establish efficient, secure, and scalable collaboration across complex development ecosystems.

Udo Hering