If you’re a Creo Schematics or Windchill user and something broke after a recent upgrade, you’re not imagining things. PTC has made a significant change to how these products connect. Depending on which versions you’re running, the impact might range from “nothing yet” to “this stopped working entirely.” Here’s what happened, why it happened, and what you can do about it. 

What’s Happening and Why It Matters 

The Short Version 

PTC is replacing the legacy Workgroup Manager (WGM) integration for Creo Schematics with a new integration built by Virtual Interconnect, a third-party partner. The new integration is built on Windchill’s modern REST APIs and is intended to be the long-term path forward for Schematics-to-Windchill connectivity. 

This is not a minor update. It changes the fundamental mechanism by which Creo Schematics and Windchill talk to each other. If you’ve upgraded either product recently, or are planning to, this change affects you. 

A Quick Primer on the Products Involved 

Creo Schematics is PTC’s tool for creating electrical and fluid schematic diagrams, including wiring harnesses and system-level interconnect designs. It’s used by engineers across industries like automotive, aerospace, and industrial equipment. 

Windchill PDMLink is PTC’s product data management (PDM) platform. The Workgroup Manager is the client-side plugin that connects design tools like Creo Schematics to Windchill, enabling teams to manage, version, and share design data centrally. 

When the WGM works, it’s invisible. When it doesn’t, engineers lose access to their managed data, and that’s a significant problem. 

What PTC Changed and When 

Starting with Windchill 12.0.2, PTC partnered with Virtual Interconnect (VI) to deliver a new Schematics integration built on REST APIs. As part of this transition, PTC made a clear cutoff: 

In short, the Workgroup Manager for Schematics is in its final chapter. 

Why This Feels Random: The Version Matrix 

This has been catching teams off guard recently. This is because the problem only surfaces when one or both products get upgraded. Customers who haven’t touched either system may have no idea this change exists. Customers who upgraded Windchill to 12.1 or later, or moved beyond Creo Schematics 7.0, hit the wall immediately. 

Here’s how the compatibility breaks down: 

The overlap between Windchill 12.0.2 and Creo Schematics 7.0 is intentional. It gives customers a transition window where both integrations work, so you can move to VI without being forced to upgrade everything at once. But that window is not permanent. 

What This Means for You Right Now 

Your Paths Forward 

Option 1: Stay on Windchill 12.0.2 and Creo Schematics 7.0 (Short-Term) 

If your team is running Windchill 12.0.2 and Creo Schematics 7.0 and not planning to upgrade anytime soon, you’re still in the transition window. The Windchill WGM continues to function, and you have access to sustained support if something breaks. 

This is a viable holding position, not a long-term strategy. Any upgrade to either product ends this option immediately, and sustained support itself has an expiration date. Use this window to evaluate and plan your move to VI, not to avoid it. 

Option 2: Transition to the Virtual Interconnect Integration 

The Virtual Interconnect integration is the path PTC has designated for all Creo Schematics users moving forward. It’s built on Windchill’s REST APIs, which means it’s more aligned with how Windchill is being developed and where PTC is investing. 

One important requirement: VI only supports the Full version of Creo Schematics. If you’re currently on the standard version, transitioning to VI means upgrading your Schematics license as well. This is covered in the next section. 

For customers already on the Full version of Creo Schematics, the path forward is relatively straightforward: engage with EAC to configure and implement the VI integration for your environment. 

Option 3: Upgrade to Creo Schematics Full Version 

For many customers, the upgrade to Creo Schematics Full is both a requirement for VI compatibility and a genuine capability upgrade. Here’s what the Full version adds beyond VI support: 

PTC’s own guidance recommends the Full version for any customer with more than 5 users needing central catalog access, designs exceeding 10 sheets, or any of the needs listed above. If your team does serious schematic work, you likely already need Full. VI compatibility just adds one more reason to make the move. 

How to Decide: A Simple Framework 

If your situation doesn’t fit cleanly into one of these, the version combination is what determines your options. An EAC team member can quickly assess where you land and what makes the most sense for your environment. 

Next Steps 

PTC has published additional technical detail at CS362065 and CS298492. If you’re looking for the authoritative source for support expiration dates, check out the PTC Product Calendar.

If you’re not sure which versions you’re running, or you want help thinking through the right path for your team, reach out to EAC. We work with customers on both the licensing side (Creo Schematics Full) and the implementation side (VI integration setup), so we can help you navigate the full transition from where you are today to where you need to be. 

Companies use product lifecycle management (PLM) to improve collaboration, streamline processes, and control critical product data. PTC Windchill provides a set of applications and modules that help teams manage product information and workflows across the product lifecycle.

Windchill modules address different needs, from managing engineering data and product structures to supporting project collaboration, manufacturing planning, quality, and service. Product names and packaging can vary by Windchill version and deployment. Some familiar module names may appear in older materials, while current offerings may group similar capabilities into role-based packages or add-ons.

Windchill Modules 

Windchill products are application modules that offer users specific sets of features and capabilities within the Windchill application suite. Some of the most common Windchill PLM modules include: 

What is Windchill PDM Essentials? 

Windchill PDM Essentials is a packaged product data management offering built on Windchill. It has been aimed at helping teams manage engineering data, including CAD files, documents, and bills of materials, with capabilities such as version control and search.

Because this product name and its availability can depend on the Windchill version and package, confirm that it applies to the customer’s environment before presenting it as a current offering..

What is Windchill PDMLink? 

Windchill PDMLink is a familiar name for Windchill product data management. It helps teams manage product information, including parts, documents, CAD data, configurations, and engineering changes.

Teams use these capabilities to control versions and releases, track changes, and maintain relationships between product data. For current proposals, confirm the applicable product name and package, since current offerings may bundle these capabilities differently.

What is Windchill ProjectLink?  

Windchill ProjectLink is a collaborative proWindchill ProjectLink has been used for project-based collaboration around product information. Teams can coordinate project activities and share information in a common workspace.

The name remains familiar in Windchill discussions, but current packaging may differ by environment. Confirm the available collaboration application or package before describing ProjectLink as a standalone add-on. 

What is Windchill Partslink? 

Windchill PartsLink is associated with part classification and attribute-based search. Classification helps teams organize parts, find similar components, and identify opportunities to reuse existing designs rather than create duplicates.

In current Windchill+ packaging materials, parts classification is included with BOM Management. Since packaging can vary, confirm whether PartsLink is the applicable product name for the customer’s deployment before positioning it as a separate module.. 

What are Windchill Quality Applications? 

Windchill quality applications connect quality processes with product information and change management. Depending on the selected offering, teams can manage issues such as nonconformances, corrective and preventive actions, supplier corrective actions, and customer complaints.

Older descriptions of Windchill Quality Solutions 10.1 refer to specific desktop, administrator, and web-access applications. Those version-specific descriptions should not be used as a current product overview. Current materials include Audit and Quality Management, with capabilities and packaging dependent on the selected offering. 

Is there other Windchill Software for product data management and process management?

Windchill supports additional product and process needs through other applications and role-based offerings. The exact product name and package can vary between Windchill deployments.

Choosing Windchill Modules

The right Windchill modules depend on the work a company needs to support. A team focused on engineering data management may look at PDMLink-related capabilities. A team coordinating project work may look at ProjectLink-related collaboration. Part classification and reuse, manufacturing planning, supplier processes, quality, requirements, and service each point to other Windchill applications or add-ons.

Because product names and packaging depend on the Windchill version and deployment, confirm the current offering before recommending a specific module. EAC works with manufacturers to implement and optimize Windchill around their product development processes.

Explore the modules and related offerings that fit your team’s needs, then read our blog “What’s New in Windchill?” for recent Windchill updates!

In the world of product development, speed, accuracy, and collaboration determine who leads… and who lags behind. As product designs grow more complex and teams become more distributed, having the latest capabilities in your PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) system can make all the difference.

That’s why knowing what’s new in Windchill is so important. Each new release of PTC Windchill delivers powerful enhancements that simplify data management, improve user experience, and strengthen the digital thread that connects design, manufacturing, and service. In this post, we’ll break down what’s new in Windchill 13, highlight its most impactful features, and explain how these updates help organizations stay agile and competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

What’s new in the latest version of Windchill?

The latest Windchill 13 release marks a significant leap forward for PTC’s industry-leading PLM platform. With new UI improvements, enhanced scalability, and advanced integration capabilities, Windchill 13 helps teams work smarter, not harder. Here’s a closer look at some of the top new features and enhancements:

1. Modernized User Experience

PTC has reimagined Windchill’s interface to be cleaner, more intuitive, and easier to navigate. The improved layout streamlines everyday tasks like document management, configuration, and workflow tracking, reducing clicks and improving user adoption.

The redesigned Windchill Navigate apps also provide simplified, role-based access to product data, ensuring that everyone – from engineers to service teams – can find the information they need quickly.

2. Performance and Scalability Enhancements

Windchill 13 introduces key architectural updates that boost system performance and scalability. Large assembly handling, concurrent user support, and faster search capabilities allow global teams to collaborate in real time without lag or data delays.

This makes the platform more reliable for enterprise-scale deployments, particularly for companies managing thousands of parts or operating across multiple sites.

3. Strengthened Change Management and Digital Thread Integration

Improved change management workflows make it easier to document, approve, and execute design and process changes within a single ecosystem. The new release enhances cross-functional visibility, so stakeholders can assess the downstream impact of changes across CAD models, BOMs, and documentation.

Windchill 13 also continues PTC’s push toward a connected digital thread, unifying data from design through manufacturing and service.

4. Expanded Openness and Integration Options

PTC continues to embrace openness across its platforms. Windchill 13 offers expanded API support and seamless integration with ThingWorx, Creo, and Vuforia – allowing organizations to connect their PLM data to IoT, AR, and other enterprise systems.

This flexibility helps teams extend the value of their product data beyond engineering, enabling smarter, connected operations across the entire product lifecycle.

5. Security and Compliance Improvements

As data security and regulatory compliance become increasingly critical, Windchill 13 introduces stronger encryption, access control, and audit-trail capabilities. These updates help organizations meet industry standards and safeguard sensitive product information while maintaining traceability from design through disposal.

How These New Features Benefit Your Organization

Understanding what’s new in PTC Windchill is just the first step. Knowing how these enhancements translate to business results is where the real value lies.

By upgrading to Windchill 13, organizations can:

Simply put, the latest Windchill release helps teams work more efficiently, make better decisions faster, and stay ahead in a competitive, connected world.

What to Consider Before Upgrading Windchill

While the benefits of Windchill 13 are compelling, upgrading should be a strategic decision, not a rushed one. Before moving forward, evaluate your readiness and long-term goals.

Consider the following:

By planning ahead, you’ll maximize your ROI and avoid common pitfalls that can slow or complicate upgrades.

Tips for a Smooth Upgrade and Adoption

A successful upgrade is about more than installing software. It’s about adoption, optimization, and continuous improvement.

Here are a few practical tips for success:

Understanding what’s new in Windchill is just one part of the equation. Adopting it effectively is where you’ll realize the most value.

Why Partner with EAC for Your Windchill Upgrade

EAC Product Development Solutions has helped hundreds of companies upgrade, migrate, and optimize their Windchill environments. Our team can guide you through every step. From assessing readiness and planning upgrades to configuring workflows and training users. Whether you’re moving from an older Windchill version or integrating with Creo, ThingWorx, or other systems, EAC ensures your transition is smooth, secure, and value-driven.

Learn more about our Windchill Upgrade and Implementation Services today!

Stay Ahead with the Latest in Windchill

The newest Windchill release reinforces PTC’s commitment to helping manufacturers achieve faster innovation, stronger collaboration, and better product lifecycle visibility. If your team relies on Windchill for design, manufacturing, or service collaboration, now is the time to explore the benefits of upgrading. The latest version isn’t just an update. It’s a platform for the future of connected, data-driven product development.

Interested in learning more about the importance of PLM? Explore how foundational PLM is in our guide: Digital Transformation Starts with PLM.

Windchill is a mission-critical enterprise system with multiple components and touch points across an entire enterprise. Because of this complexity, you might recognize the need for Windchill Managed Services. EAC has created a managed services program for your Windchill system: the EAC Alliance Program. The Alliance Program provides PTC Windchill managed services such as Windchill administration and support.

Our team of expert system administrators help improve system performance, optimize server and license configurations, and maintain a stable PLM environment for your organization. Looking to understand what we deliver? Below are some frequently asked questions.

Frequently asked questions around Windchill Administration

When manufacturing and engineering leaders evaluate their PLM strategy, they have a lot of critical questions. Decision-makers need clear answers on what Windchill administration involves, when they should consider outsourcing, and what risks unmanaged environments pose. Below we provide focused answers to frequently asked questions to help you evaluate whether a Windchill managed services program is right for your organization.

What does Windchill administration involve and why is it important?

Windchill administration encompasses the full set of tasks required to keep your PLM system healthy, secure and aligned with organizational processes—such as user and license management, system configuration, performance tuning, and lifecycle/workflow definitions. Effective administration ensures data integrity, minimizes downtime, and keeps product data flowing smoothly across engineering, manufacturing and service operations. For example, administrators will manage user access, define roles/teams, configure workflows, administer object types and versioning, and monitor system logs to identify issues before they escalate.

Without dedicated administration, companies risk slow performance, inconsistent processes, and lost productivity—making this role foundational for any serious Windchill deployment.

When should a company consider outsourcing Windchill administration instead of managing it in-house?

Outsourcing Windchill administration makes sense when internal resources are limited, the system has become complex, or you want access to specialist expertise without hiring full-time staff. Many companies turn to managed services when they lack sufficient Windchill-specific knowledge in-house, or when maintaining uptime, performance, patching and monitoring become too burdensome for their IT/engineering teams. According to recent program data, partnering with a managed services provider can deliver high-availability environments and relieve internal teams to focus on strategic PLM usage rather than just maintenance.

If your Windchill system is integral to product development and you can’t afford extended downtime or degradation in performance, outsourcing can be the smarter and more scalable choice.

What are the typical risks of poorly managed Windchill environments?

When Windchill systems are under-managed, organizations face risks such as unplanned downtime, degraded system performance, data inconsistency, version misalignment, and security vulnerabilities from delayed patching. These issues can slow engineering workflows, hamper collaboration between teams, increase support costs, and even result in compliance or audit failures if product data is uncontrolled. For instance, if workflows or lifecycles aren’t properly configured, teams may inadvertently work on the wrong version of a part or document—leading to errors that propagate downstream. In highly regulated or competitive manufacturing sectors, these problems compromise innovation speed and product quality, making adequate administration essential rather than optional.

What types of administrative tasks are included in a Windchill managed services program (patching, system tuning, replication, license optimization)?

A Windchill managed services program typically includes proactive system tasks such as regular patching and updates, server and application performance tuning, license usage tracking and optimization, data cleanup, replication site management, CAD worker configuration and environment monitoring. For example, administrators will monitor system logs for error patterns, manage replication sites to support multiple locations or disaster recovery, and alert you when license groups or worker scripts need attention. Additionally, managed service offerings may include scheduled health checks, junior to expert support tiers, shared service dashboards and continuous improvement planning so your Windchill environment evolves rather than stagnates. Outsourcing these tasks ensures consistent support for your PLM environment and often delivers performance gains and uptime improvements beyond what internal teams achieve alone.

What can customers expect from our Windchill managed services?

Here’s what customer’s see with our Windchill Managed Services and what you can expect.

Windchill Managed Services Percent of Uptime

95.1% of our EAC Alliance Program customers achieve 100% Windchill uptime. Our customers that do not have 100% Windchill uptime still maintain over 99% availability.  This is an overall average of 99.95% or more uptime.

Windchill Managed Services Predictive Maintenance

Our Alliance program executes planned (weekly, monthly, etc) Windchill maintenance.  Predictive maintenance is more efficient and the preferred approach to system maintenance. Roughly 1/4 of Alliance customers choose to implement PTC System Monitor (PSM) as a way to bolster EAC’s already rigorous proactive maintenance.

Speed/Performance of Windchill with Managed Services

100% of EAC’s Alliance Program customers see an improvement in the speed and performance of their Windchill system.  Out of the box, Windchill leaves a lot of room for performance tuning and server optimization. Our EAC Alliance Program Team are skilled in analyzing  and optimizing system resources to suit your individual needs

Windchill Managed Services Security/Patches

100% of our EAC Alliance customers receive (or are notified) of patches.  This way you can be assured that your system is running with maximum security at all times. 

Next Steps: Optimize Your Windchill System with Confidence

Your Windchill system is the backbone of your product development process. Don’t let preventable performance or maintenance issues slow down your innovation. Whether your team needs help managing system uptime, planning proactive maintenance, or optimizing your PLM environment for scalability, EAC Product Development Solutions is here to help.

Our Windchill Managed Services give you direct access to certified PLM experts who monitor, maintain, and continually optimize your environment, so your engineers can stay focused on product design, not system administration.

If you’re ready to improve your system’s reliability, performance, and ROI, connect with us to help your organization achieve:

The majority of businesses aspire to achieve sustainability but often lack clarity on where to begin. Many perceive adopting sustainable practices as a daunting task, believing it necessitates a complete overhaul of their production processes to make a significant impact. However, let me assure you that this is not the case.

So, where should you start your journey towards creating more sustainable product design and manufacturing processes?

To genuinely embrace sustainability, focus on making design decisions at the outset. Designing for repair, reducing material usage, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recovery, reuse, and recycling is crucial. It requires a holistic approach that considers a product’s environmental impact throughout its lifecycle.

Over 80% of a product’s environmental impact stems from design decisions made early on.

Here are three ways design changes can drive sustainability:

Sustainability in Design for Dematerialization

Dematerialization, or material usage reduction, emerges as a crucial strategy for sustainability, aiming to reduce material consumption and weight without sacrificing strength and durability. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies like Generative Design, engineers can optimize designs to use only the necessary amount of material, tailored to specific loads and constraints of each application.

Creo Simulation Live offers a seamless platform for quickly assessing how different materials or reduced material usage affect design performance, enabling adjustments earlier in the design process.

Moreover, with solutions like Creo AMX, designers leverage additive manufacturing capabilities to build structures in the most efficient direction, generating automated supports, and showcasing the potential of lattice structures.

These innovations not only allow for a material reduction but pave the way for lighter, more sustainable products that maintain the required level of performance. As we continue to prioritize dematerialization in manufacturing, we edge closer to a future where sustainability and efficiency are seamlessly integrated into every aspect of product development.

Sustainability in Design for Waste Reduction

Designing for manufacturability and minimizing material waste, such as through minimal stock allowance, ensures efficient use of resources from the outset. By leveraging die casting for near-net shape production throughout the manufacturing process, material waste is significantly reduced to maximize material utilization and minimize scrap generation.

Additionally, utilizing numerically controlled (NC) strategies optimized for fast machining and lower energy consumption, such as high-speed machining (HSM) roughing and finishing, contributes to waste reduction and energy efficiency.

Moreover, designing for ease of service and assembly extends product lifespan and reduces the demand for new products. While some parts of a product may wear faster than others, creating products for easy disassembly eliminates waste because you do not have to throw away the entire product to extend the lifespan.

Accurate documentation of assembly and disassembly instructions empowers users to maintain and repair products, minimizing waste and promoting a more sustainable approach to product lifecycle management.

Sustainability in Design for Energy Efficiency

Engineers globally actively address questions such as, “Can we reduce noise and unneeded energy consumption in design?” and “Can we make our design more thermally efficient?” to pave the way for eco-friendly innovation.

Their goal is to pinpoint areas where energy is wasted, but don’t have the most efficient tools to accomplish that task. Modal analysis and thermal analysis enable more streamlined and environmentally conscious designs. Additionally, tools like Creo Flow Analysis optimizes flow efficiency to ensure that products operate with maximum efficiency, minimizing energy requirements without sacrificing performance.

Furthermore, selecting materials that demand less energy to manufacture and recycle adds another layer of sustainability to the design process and reduces the overall environmental impact from production to end-of-life disposal. Through these proactive measures, energy-efficient product design becomes a tangible pathway towards a more sustainable future.

Sustainable Design Solutions

Our suite of Creo design tools supports sustainable practices:

Designing for sustainability benefits both the environment and businesses. Companies can significantly reduce their environmental footprint by considering dematerialization, disassembly, and behavioral modeling.

By partnering with EAC for solution identification and utilizing PTC’s comprehensive Creo design tools, companies can pave the way for a sustainable future while improving their bottom line. Let’s talk about how EAC can help you identify solutions to help your company embrace sustainable design practices today!