Aerospace PLM Software

Why adopt PLM in aerospace?

Safety & Traceability: Non-negotiable fundamentals

Aerospace safety rests on a cardinal principle: the absolute traceability of every single element. Aerospace-grade PLM excels in this mission by creating a digital thread that follows each component from its initial design to its operational maintenance.

This traceability is ensured through the recording of every design decision, comprehensive test and validation documentation, a complete change history with justifications, and supplier monitoring with their certifications. In the event of an incident, this capability allows instant identification of all potentially impacted aircraft and the initiation of corrective actions.

Regulatory Compliance: Navigating normative complexity

Aerospace operates in an incredibly complex regulatory environment. Between EASA and FAA certifications, DO-178C standards for embedded software, the NF EN 9100 standard for quality, and REACH for materials, requirements keep multiplying and evolving.

Aerospace PLM structures this compliance by automating validation processes and embedding regulatory requirements directly into development workflows. No more forgotten certification steps or reliance on outdated standards: the system guides teams and ensures proper procedure.

This systemic approach also simplifies audits and inspections by instantly providing all required proof of compliance. Certification authorities gain structured access to the necessary data, significantly accelerating approval processes.

Optimized Time-to-Market, Enhanced Efficiency: Your Competitive Edge

Contrary to common belief, safety and speed do not oppose each other in modern aerospace. PLM demonstrates that development can be accelerated while simultaneously improving quality and safety.

This performance stems from eliminating repetitive, non-value-added tasks. Engineers spend less time searching for information, validating versions, or re-entering data, and more time innovating and solving complex technical challenges.

International collaboration, so common in aerospace, also benefits. Distributed teams across multiple sites work on the same information base, synchronized in real time, eliminating delays and misunderstandings that traditionally slow multinational projects.

Key Features of Aerospace PLM

Bill of Materials & Configuration Management

Managing the Bill of Materials (BOM) in aerospace reaches dizzying levels of complexity. A modern commercial aircraft contains several million parts, with airline-specific variants, multiple configuration options, and continuous upgrades over its lifespan.

Aerospace PLM masters this complexity by structuring multi-level BOMs and automatically managing the impacts of modifications. When a component changes, the system instantly identifies all impacted assemblies and triggers appropriate validation processes.

Configuration management also becomes smoother thanks to automated comparison tools and dashboards that highlight differences between versions. Teams gain clear visibility of each configuration state and can make informed decisions about future changes.

Qualified Workflows & Automated Processes

Aerospace demands development processes that are not only rigorous but also auditable and reproducible. Aerospace PLM excels by offering pre-configured workflows that comply with industry and regulatory standards.

These workflows automate critical steps: design reviews, technical validations, regulatory approvals, and transfers to production. Every action is logged, time-stamped, and linked to its responsible owner, creating a complete, indisputable audit trail.

Adaptability ensures that workflows can be tailored to each program while preserving the required rigor. Teams can personalize processes without compromising compliance.

Secure Access & Version Control

Data security is a strategic issue in aerospace, where technical information often constitutes critical industrial secrets. Aerospace PLM integrates multi-layered security mechanisms to protect the integrity and confidentiality of information.

Access rights management reflects the complexity of aerospace organizations. Each user only accesses the information necessary for their role, based on predefined, regularly audited security profiles.

Automatic versioning ensures that no modification is lost or confused. The full history of changes remains accessible, allowing teams to revert to previous versions or understand the reasoning behind a modification.

Examples of Aerospace PLM Software

PTC Windchill

The American vendor PTC built its reputation on industrial robustness and has become a benchmark for the most complex manufacturing environments. With Windchill, it meets the needs of aerospace OEMs and suppliers thanks to its ability to manage massive volumes of data and integrate seamlessly into heterogeneous IT systems. Native integration with Creo CAD tools ensures a smooth experience, while the platform excels in configuration management and regulatory traceability.

Aras Innovator

Aras, an American pioneer, disrupted the PLM market with its open-source approach. Positioned around flexibility and customization, it leverages low-code to adapt to the specific business processes of each aerospace organization.

This agility appeals to companies with highly specialized needs, enabling them to tailor the platform without depending solely on IT departments. Aras’ ability to keep pace with regulatory and organizational changes makes it a strong competitive advantage in a constantly evolving sector.

Aletiq: Next-Generation PLM for Aerospace

Aletiq redefines PLM with a solution that is both flexible and intuitive. Our platform combines the rigor required in aerospace with user-friendliness that speeds adoption and maximizes team productivity.

Its modern architecture facilitates integration with existing technical ecosystems, while its workflows streamline business processes. Designed to adapt to each client’s specific needs, Aletiq empowers companies to gain agility, ensure full traceability, and focus on their true competitive edge: product innovation.

Real-World Use Cases in Aerospace

Developing a New Aircraft Engine

Take the example of developing a new commercial aircraft engine. This project mobilizes hundreds of engineers across continents, with strict certification requirements and massive financial stakes.

The PLM orchestrates the entire process: from defining initial specifications based on feedback from previous engines, to complex thermodynamic simulations, all the way through to certification testing. Every component is designed, tested, and validated within the PLM environment, ensuring complete traceability of all technical decisions.

The results are spectacular: a 30% reduction in development cycles, a 50% drop in late-detected design errors, and significant improvement in team collaboration.

Modernizing an Existing Aircraft

Upgrading an aircraft in service perfectly illustrates the value of PLM in managing aerospace complexity. This involves integrating new systems (modern avionics, more efficient engines, updated cabin layouts) while preserving existing certifications and minimizing production impacts.

PLM enables precise analysis of each modification’s impact across the aircraft. Engineers automatically identify affected systems, assess potential interactions, and plan necessary validation tests. Digital workflows ensure full traceability of modification requests, from initial approval to implementation. This systemic approach avoids costly surprises and accelerates recertification.

How to Choose Aerospace PLM Software?

Selecting aerospace PLM cannot be improvised. Several technical criteria are essential prerequisites for project success.

Native regulatory compliance is the first filter. The system must integrate the requirements of major certification authorities (EASA, FAA, EN) and provide workflows for common validation processes. Compliance “by design” avoids costly, risky custom developments.

Integration capabilities largely determine deployment success. PLM must naturally interface with existing CAD ecosystems (CATIA, NX, SolidWorks…), ERP systems, and collaboration platforms, preserving prior IT investments.

Scalability ensures that the solution will grow with the organization. Aerospace experiences significant workload fluctuations depending on programs, and PLM must absorb these without performance degradation.

Strategic Questions to Ask

Beyond technical aspects, several key questions determine whether your PLM truly aligns with your business needs:

• What is the actual complexity of your products? A drone with a few hundred parts does not require the same PLM sophistication as a jet engine with thousands of components and complex thermodynamic interactions. Simpler products benefit from ease of use and quick deployment, while highly complex systems demand advanced configuration management and simulation features.

• What are your critical vs. desirable features? Distinguish between must-haves (BOM management, regulatory traceability, validation workflows) and nice-to-haves (integrated simulation, AI, advanced analytics). This prioritization avoids costly over-specification and accelerates implementation.

• What is the scope of your project? Define exactly what information you wish to centralize in PLM. Which teams will use it—just engineering, or also procurement, quality, and production? This scope determines the functional architecture and integration needs.

• Cloud or on-premise: which approach fits your constraints? Cloud solutions offer faster deployment (2–3 times quicker), no heavy IT setup, and lower upfront costs. On-premise ensures full control but demands extensive IT resources, higher costs, and longer lead times. Balance security requirements, internal capacities, and time-to-market imperatives before deciding.

Today, PLM has become the technological backbone of the modern aerospace industry. Faced with increasingly complex products, tighter regulations, and intensified global competition, PLM is no longer a competitive advantage—it is an absolute necessity.The benefits extend far beyond technical aspects: enhanced product safety, faster development cycles, stronger regulatory compliance. PLM fundamentally transforms how aerospace teams design, develop, and industrialize products.

The choice of solution must be based on a thorough analysis of your specific needs, technological ecosystem, and strategic ambitions. But regardless of the vendor, the key is to take the step: in today’s aerospace industry, not having PLM is a far greater risk than implementing one.

At Aletiq, we support aerospace players in this transformation with a next-generation PLM that reconciles technical rigor with ease of use, so operational excellence is no longer reserved for large corporations. Our agile solution adapts to the specific needs of each site, ensuring deployment aligned with real-world operations.

We already work alongside industry leaders such as Lisi Aerospace, Hutchinson, and Safran, who trust us to optimize processes and accelerate innovation.

For more insights, see our articles on:

• PLM Software for the Fashion & Textile Industry
• PLM Software for the Luxury Industry
• PLM Software for the Energy Sector
• PLM Software for the Automotive Industry
• PLM Software for Cosmetics

FAQ

What are the benefits of PLM in aerospace?

Aerospace PLM drastically improves traceability and product safety, accelerates development processes, simplifies regulatory compliance, and optimizes team collaboration. Typical gains include a 20–40% reduction in development cycles and a significant drop in design errors.

Does PLM help with certifications?

Absolutely. PLM structures and automates certification processes by embedding regulatory requirements into workflows. It simplifies audits by providing full traceability and instant access to compliance evidence.

How is PLM deployed?

Deployment usually follows a phased approach: needs analysis, definition of the target model with operational teams, solution configuration, data migration, interface setup, and then on-site team training.

Does PLM ensure compliance with traceability obligations?

Yes—this is one of its core missions. PLM automatically records all actions, modifications, and validations with timestamps and responsible owners. This digital traceability fully meets aerospace regulatory requirements and simplifies investigations in case of incidents.