#127: Boxes on the Plane: Lessons from a PDM Migration to PLM

What happens when a company does everything you can do to a private jet - except build one from scratch?Aaron Lane has spent 25+ years at Duncan Aviation, navigating a PLM journey that went from literal paper boxes loaded onto departing aircraft, through a legacy ERP stretched beyond its limits, to SmarTeam, and finally to Aras Innovator. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on what that transformation actually looked like - the messy parts included.Whether you're greenfield, brownfield, or somewhere in between, this conversation is packed with hard-won, practical wisdom.Key TakeawaysWhy Duncan Aviation's "product" is actually a service - and why that changes everything about PLM requirementsHow to manage uncontrolled vendor technical data from thousands of OEM suppliers at scaleThe power and the peril of a DIY customization cultureWhy you must clarify governance before go-live - not afterHow Duncan is now using Aras to automate tribal knowledge and eliminate paperwork gapsGuestAaron Lane - PLM Lead, Duncan Aviation A 25+ year Duncan veteran who started as an assistant finish tech and has held roles spanning production planner, project manager, certification coordinator, and engineering team leader. Aaron has been the driving force behind Duncan's PLM evolution from SmarTeam to Aras Innovator.Resources & Links MentionedDuncan Aviation - duncanaviation.aeroAras Innovator - PLM platform used by Duncan AviationDuncan Aviation Case Study - Available at razorleaf.com (published separately)SmarTeam - Legacy PLM system (Dassault Systèmes, now end-of-life)CATIA - CAD platform used by Duncan's European OEM partnerCMMC - Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, relevant to Duncan's manufacturing divisionHave a question for Aaron or want to connect with Duncan Aviation? Reach out via the podcast community.👉 Send topic ideas or guest suggestions: [email protected]🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode ⭐ Leave a review - it helps more engineers find the show 💬 Drop a comment - the hosts actually read themStay Sharp in Digital Engineering is the podcast about tools, trends, and tactics shaping digital transformation in product manufacturing. New episodes drop regularly.Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks.Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.© 2026 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.