With the increased use of Computer aided Design (CAD), Computer aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Computer aided Engineering (CAE), many engineering and manufacturing companies are experiencing problems with managing their product related data or information. Product Data Management (PDM) systems are tools that catalogue and manage all types of product data / information. PDM systems also offer Product Structure / Bill of Material management functions that are used for defining and analysing product configurations. In order to maximise the benefit of PDM systems, methods of creating generic Product Structure / BoM's need to be developed and evaluated. The possibility and effects of extending Product Structure / BoM access to departments other then design is investigated in the research. Combined with these factors is the need for transfer of data from PDM systems to manufacturing software such as Computer aided Process Planning (CAPP) and Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP). The research also contains an investigation into the potential effects of emerging technologies such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), object - oriented database management systems (OODMS) and the internet. Finally, the project includes two industrial case studies focusing on Matra BAE Dynamics Ltd and Rolls - Royce Aerospace and a market research survey.