Proplanner
Proplanner is an assembly-focused PLM platform for discrete manufacturers, integrating CAPP, APS, MES, MDM, PFEP/eKanban, and ECO into a single engineering-to-shop-floor system. It operates as a product line under Advantive LLC, serving enterprise manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, food & beverage, and industrial sectors globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersAmes, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Proplanner does
Proplanner is an assembly-focused Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software platform purpose-built for discrete manufacturers that need to plan, document, and execute the assembly of complex products. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Ames, Iowa, the company operates as a product line under privately-held software roll-up Advantive LLC (Delaware), with a global footprint and an 11–50 employee base. The platform unifies CAPP (Computer Aided Process Planning), APS (Advanced Production Scheduling), MES (Manufacturing Execution via Shop Floor Viewer), MDM (Manufacturing Data Management), PFEP/eKanban/eKitting, Engineering Change Processing (ECO), 3D CAD visualization and annotation, process video capture, and work-instruction modules (time estimation, line balancing, ergonomics) into one integrated system intended to bridge engineering and the shop floor.
The product is differentiated by its narrow assembly-focused positioning — marketed as the only assembly-focused PLM in the market — versus generalist PLM/MES suites, and by bi-directional flow of task-level information between manufacturing engineers and shop-floor workers. Its customer base spans enterprise discrete manufacturers across automotive safety (Autoliv), food & beverage (Ben & Jerry's, Ocean Spray), construction materials (GAF), apparel/footwear (Georgia Boot), and other industrial segments (VC2).
Revenue is generated through enterprise software licensing and subscriptions, sold via Advantive's enterprise field-sales organization with tailored industry demos and free consultations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Marketing is conducted through Advantive's shared infrastructure — webinars, content, and industry events — positioning Proplanner within a broader manufacturing-software portfolio alongside sibling products such as Insequence (automotive supply-chain sequencing), PINpoint, ParityFactory, VIA IT, and quality/SPC tools. The company does not maintain separate funding disclosures, leadership pages, or standalone financial reporting; momentum and investment signals are absorbed into Advantive's roll-up strategy.
Proplanner firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Proplanner
- Legal name
- Advantive LLC
- Website
- https://proplanner.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Proplanner is an assembly-focused PLM platform for discrete manufacturers, integrating CAPP, APS, MES, MDM, PFEP/eKanban, and ECO into a single engineering-to-shop-floor system. It operates as a product line under Advantive LLC, serving enterprise manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, food & beverage, and industrial sectors globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Proplanner industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Product Lifecycle Management Software
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Product Lifecycle, NPI & Industrialization (Design-to-Operate) (BPAHAHAK)
Keywords
Where Proplanner is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ames
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Proplanner business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Enterprise Software Licenses and Subscriptions: Proplanner generates revenue through enterprise software licensing, likely subscription-based delivery as part of Advantive's product portfolio of manufacturing software solutions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Proplanner product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Proplanner sells an Assembly-Focused Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software system designed for discrete manufacturers of assembled products. The platform integrates process planning, work instructions, manufacturing data management, engineering change processing, advanced production scheduling, shop floor MES, and PFEP/eKanban/eKitting capabilities into a single environment, connecting engineering with shop floor execution.
Product overview
Proplanner is an Assembly-Focused Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system and the only Assembly-Focused PLM system available in the market. The product is a unified platform that includes multiple integrated modules: the core Assembly-Focused PLM connects to 3D CAD Model Visualization/Annotation Editing, Process Video Capture and Analysis, Manufacturing Data Management (MDM) with integrated Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP), Advanced Production Scheduling (APS), Manufacturing Execution System (MES) with Shop Floor Viewer, Plan For Every Part (PFEP) with electronic Kanban and Kitting, Engineering Change Processing (ECO), Work Instructions System with Time Studies and Line Balancing, and 3D Virtual Assembly. These modules work together to enable manufacturers to define, manage, and optimize how products are built, connecting process planning, work instructions, manufacturing data, and change management from engineering through execution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Proplanner Assembly-Focused PLM An Assembly-Focused Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system that helps manufacturers define, manage, and optimize how products are built by connecting process planning, work instructions, manufacturing data, and change management so teams can plan faster, improve traceability, and keep production aligned from engineering through execution.
Quantifiable outcome
- 34% improvement in utilization
Companies that use Proplanner
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Proplanner technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Proplanner partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Proplanner competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Infor (Infor PLM): Infor provides industry-specific ERP and PLM solutions, including discrete manufacturing capabilities. It competes with Proplanner for process planning, BOM, and shop floor integration budgets in enterprise accounts.
- Autodesk Fusion Lifecycle (formerly PLM 360): Autodesk Fusion Lifecycle provides cloud-based PLM and BOM management for discrete manufacturers. It competes with Proplanner for PLM and change management use cases in mid-market assembly operations.
- PTC (Windchill): PTC's Windchill is a leading enterprise PLM platform widely used in discrete and aerospace manufacturing. It competes with Proplanner for PLM, BOM management, and change management wallet share across overlapping customer segments.
- Siemens Digital Industries (Teamcenter): Siemens Teamcenter is a dominant enterprise PLM suite used across automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturers. It competes directly with Proplanner for PLM, MES, and process planning budgets in large accounts.
- Dassault Systèmes (3DEXPERIENCE): Dassault's 3DEXPERIENCE platform combines CAD, PLM, and manufacturing execution. It is a broad incumbent competing with Proplanner across discrete manufacturing customers seeking integrated product-to-production workflows.
Direct peers
- Arena Solutions: Arena Solutions is a cloud-native PLM provider focused on discrete manufacturers and BOM-centric workflows. It is a direct competitor to Proplanner in the PLM space serving similar mid-market and enterprise discrete manufacturing customers.
- Aras Innovator: Aras Innovator is an open, model-based PLM platform serving complex discrete manufacturers including automotive, aerospace, and industrial customers. It is directly comparable to Proplanner in PLM scope and target customer profile.
- Propel Software: Propel is a cloud PLM and product management platform built on Salesforce for high-tech and discrete manufacturers. It is a direct peer in the modern PLM space targeting similar use cases around change management, BOMs, and quality.
Emerging players
- OpenBOM: OpenBOM delivers cloud-based BOM, PLM, and manufacturing data management for small and mid-sized manufacturers. It is an emerging player overlapping with Proplanner in BOM-centric PLM workflows and shop floor data integration.
Regional players
- MasterControl: MasterControl provides quality and manufacturing lifecycle management software focused on regulated industries. It is thematically adjacent to Proplanner for change management and work instruction use cases in life sciences and discrete manufacturing.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Proplanner social profiles
Digital presenceProplanner financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Proplanner leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Proplanner subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Proplanner funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Proplanner M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Proplanner
What does Proplanner do?
Proplanner sells an Assembly-Focused Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software system designed for discrete manufacturers of assembled products. The platform integrates process planning, work instructions, manufacturing data management, engineering change processing, advanced production scheduling, shop floor MES, and PFEP/eKanban/eKitting capabilities into a single environment, connecting engineering with shop floor execution.
Is Proplanner a public or private company?
Proplanner is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Proplanner founded?
Proplanner was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Proplanner based?
Proplanner is headquartered in Ames, United States, in the North America region.
How does Proplanner make money?
One revenue line is on record: enterprise Software Licenses and Subscriptions.
Who are Proplanner's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Infor (Infor PLM), Autodesk Fusion Lifecycle (formerly PLM 360), PTC (Windchill), Siemens Digital Industries (Teamcenter) and Dassault Systèmes (3DEXPERIENCE). Direct peers are Arena Solutions, Aras Innovator and Propel Software. OpenBOM is listed as an emerging player. MasterControl is listed as a regional player.
Does Proplanner have an API?
No public API is recorded for Proplanner.
What industry is Proplanner in?
Proplanner's product category is Product Lifecycle Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAHAK, Product Lifecycle, NPI & Industrialization (Design-to-Operate). Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 7372.