# XPLM Integration Platform: SOLIDWORKS PDM with SAP ECC

> Source: https://netray.co/stack/xplm-solidworks-pdm-sap-ecc
> Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems.
> Section: ERP Stack

## Short answer

XPLM's integration platform gives SOLIDWORKS PDM and SAP a bi-directional exchange of CAD files, BOMs and material masters, documented in a SOLIDWORKS partner paper as an SAP-certified integration. Engineers release parts and assemblies in PDM and the material and BOM appear in SAP; the same integration is listed for S/4HANA. It is aimed at companies that design in SOLIDWORKS and plan in SAP.

## Erp

SAP ECC

## Erp Key

sap-ecc

## On Prem

true

## Product

XPLM Integration Platform for SOLIDWORKS PDM

## Vendor

XPLM

## Category

PLM / CAD integration

## Integration

**Method:** SAP-certified integration platform

**Detail:** XPLM sits between SOLIDWORKS PDM and SAP, mapping PDM attributes and structures to SAP material master, BOM and document info records. Exact SAP interfaces are set by the vendor; confirm them in the XPLM documentation.

## Data Flows

**From:** SOLIDWORKS PDM

**To:** SAP ECC

**Data:** Material master attributes for released parts

**Trigger:** Release or state change in PDM

**From:** SOLIDWORKS PDM

**To:** SAP ECC

**Data:** Multi-level BOM structure with quantities and units

**Trigger:** Assembly release

**From:** SOLIDWORKS PDM

**To:** SAP ECC

**Data:** CAD drawings and models linked as documents

**Trigger:** Release or revision

**From:** SAP ECC

**To:** SOLIDWORKS PDM

**Data:** Material numbers and status feedback

**Trigger:** Material created in SAP

## Setup

### Define ownership of master data

**Detail:** Decide which fields engineering owns in PDM and which purchasing or planning owns in SAP, so syncs do not overwrite each other.

### Align numbering

**Detail:** Agree how PDM part numbers map to SAP material numbers, including material types and industry sector.

### Map attributes

**Detail:** Map PDM data cards to SAP fields such as base unit of measure, material group, weight and description language.

### Map BOM rules

**Detail:** Decide how PDM configurations, phantom assemblies and purchased items become SAP BOM item categories.

### Set release workflow

**Detail:** Tie the PDM workflow state to the trigger that creates or changes SAP records, with an approval step.

### Pilot with one product family

**Detail:** Release a small assembly, inspect the SAP BOM and documents, then fix mappings before widening.

### Plan change handling

**Detail:** Define how engineering changes flow, including effectivity dates and whether change numbers are used.

## Pitfalls

- Unit of measure differences between CAD and SAP produce wrong BOM quantities.
- Configurations in SOLIDWORKS can explode into many SAP materials if rules are not set deliberately.
- Released BOM changes in PDM that conflict with open production orders in SAP need a change-management rule.
- Both systems editing the same description or weight field leads to silent overwrites.
- Document links break when file vault paths or SAP document servers are reorganized.
- Language and character set rules for descriptions are often forgotten until the first multi-plant rollout.

## Ai Layer

### Sync failure explainer

**Description:** A private assistant reads integration logs and both systems' records to say which attribute or BOM rule caused a rejected release, and drafts the correction for engineer approval.

### PDM versus SAP drift check

**Description:** Compare released PDM BOMs with SAP BOMs on a schedule and list parts where revision, quantity or unit differs.

### Duplicate part search

**Description:** Ask in plain language whether a similar part already exists in SAP before a new one is released, using retrieval over material descriptions and drawings.

## Alternatives

- A scheduled flat-file or CSV export from PDM into SAP material and BOM load programs is a cheaper start for small part counts.
- SAP's own CAD integration or an SAP PLM setup fits teams that want engineering data managed inside SAP.
- Staying with manual BOM entry is acceptable when you release only a handful of assemblies a year.

## Faq

### Is this a certified SAP integration?

**Answer:** The SOLIDWORKS partner paper describes the XPLM integration as SAP-certified for ECC and S/4HANA. Certification scope can be specific to a release, so ask XPLM to confirm it against your exact SAP version.

### Which data moves?

**Answer:** CAD files, BOMs and material masters, in both directions according to the vendor. The practical question is who owns each field, so settle that before building the mapping.

### Do we need SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional?

**Answer:** The integration targets SOLIDWORKS PDM, but edition requirements are the vendor's call. Check XPLM and SOLIDWORKS documentation for the supported PDM edition and version.

### Can AI create the SAP materials for us?

**Answer:** A private AI assistant can draft material records and flag duplicates, but creation should stay behind the XPLM release workflow and a human approval, not direct writes into SAP.

## Source

https://files.solidworks.com/partners/pdfs/sap%5Fepdm%5Fen2%2Epdf

## Search terms

xplm solidworks pdm sap, solidworks pdm sap integration, solidworks bom to sap, xplm integration platform, cad to sap material master, solidworks pdm sap ecc

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