Revision & Approval Workflow
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- No prep needed. We’ll show version control running live on real SolidWorks files.
- Works alongside your current process while you evaluate your PDM.
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Trusted by the world's top mechanical engineering teams
Built-in revision control for SolidWorks
Sibe is a Cloud PDM built specifically for SolidWorks teams. The native add-in keeps version tracking and releases inside the CAD environment engineers already work in.
- Check files out and in directly in SolidWorks. Sibe locks them to prevent overwrites.
- Every check-in creates a new version with a record of who changed what.
- Promote a final version to a formal revision when it's approved.
- Released revisions are locked, so manufacturing only sees the approved file.
Engineers keep their natural workflow in SolidWorks. Sibe handles revision history and release structure in the background.
Simple workflow states that match your process
Every file in Sibe lives in one of three states: In Progress, Pending Approval, or Released. Engineers iterate freely in In Progress. When a file is ready, they submit it for approval and add release notes. An owner reviews it, approves, and Sibe locks the released revision.
- Engineers submit files for approval directly from the web dashboard.
- Release notes are required at submission, so the reasoning is captured.
- Owners approve or send back for changes, every decision logged.
- On approval, Sibe assigns the next revision level and locks the file.
The same three states, applied consistently to every file, no custom workflows to set up, no admin overhead.
Approvals in the browser for non-CAD stakeholders
Most approvers don't use SolidWorks, they use email, browsers, and meetings. Sibe brings them into the workflow with a secure browser link. No SolidWorks licence. No install. No VPN.
- Send a secure link or QR code to managers, manufacturing, quality, or customers.
- Reviewers rotate, measure, and section the 3D model in any browser.
- Comments and mark-ups stay tied to the exact version they were made on.
- Approvals are recorded against the file, not buried in email threads.
Free unlimited web viewers on every plan, so the design view chain costs nothing extra.
Clear ownership, tasks, and audit trail
Approvals are only useful if you can see who decided what and why. Sibe records every state change, comment, and approval on the file so anyone can open a released revision and read the full story.
- Pin change requests as mark-ups directly on parts, subassemblies, or drawings.
- Every state change (In Progress → Pending Approval → Released) is recorded automatically.
- Reviewer comments and approval decisions stay attached to the version they refer to.
- A history log per file, useful for audits, ISO, and customer certifications.
Every approved revision has a clear story: who requested it, who approved it, and what changed.
Role-based permissions and safe access
Approvals require collaboration, but not everyone should be able to edit everything. Sibe uses role-based access control to keep collaboration safe.
- Grant design authors, reviewers, approvers, and external partners different permissions aligned with their role.
- Lock released revisions so they can be referenced but not accidentally modified.
- Share full projects or specific versions/revisions, and restrict downloads or editing where needed.
You get broad visibility for reviewers with tight control over who can actually change data.
External partner and supplier approvals
Most products depend on suppliers, contract manufacturers, and external design partners. Sibe makes them part of the same approval workflow without opening your entire network.
- Share controlled, IP‑protected views of assemblies and drawings with external stakeholders in the browser.
- Route supplier-critical parts through dedicated review states so they cannot be released until external sign‑off is complete.
- Remove the need to send STEP files and PDFs over email just to get a stamp of approval.
Suppliers see exactly the revision you want them to see, and you see exactly when they’ve reviewed it.
How a typical approval flow looks in Sibe
Design
On approval, Sibe advances the file to “Released,” creates the next revision, and locks the data so downstream teams always see the correct approved version.
Engineer works in SolidWorks, checks files into Sibe, and iterates through versions while the state is “In Progress.”
Reviewers comment, request changes, or approve.
Approve and release
Submit for review
When ready, the engineer moves the file to “In Review,” triggers notifications for reviewers, and shares a browser link with any non‑CAD stakeholders who need to view your design.
Free Trial
$0
Free for 14 days
- Unlimited members
- Unlimited web visitors
- SolidWorks native Add-in
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Version & Revision Control
- 2D & 3D Collaboration
- Live Chat & Email Support
- Personalized Onboarding
Business
$42/member/month
(when billed annually)
- Price per member
- Unlimited web visitors
- SolidWorks native Add-in
- 50 GB shared storage per member
- Version & Revision Control
- 2D & 3D Collaboration
- Live Chat & Email Support
- Personalized Onboarding
Business Plus
$50/member/month
(when billed annually)
- Price per member
- Unlimited web visitors
- SolidWorks native Add-in
- 500 GB shared storage per member
- Version & Revision Control
- 2D & 3D Collaboration
- Live Chat & Email Support
- Priority Support
- Personalized Onboarding
14-day free premium trial, no credit card required. Month-to-month plans also available.
Free onboarding call with Ken, our SolidWorks Expert with 30+ years experience, included in all plans.
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"Sibe has the same functionality as Vault PDM, but without the excessive cost of servers and data migration."
Tomasso Vitale
Engineering Manager,
Hirata Corporation of America
"I’m very impressed with Sibe.io - their R&D team came up with a new approach to managing CAD design data that is simple and cost-effective."
Salimzhan Gafurov
Director of Advanced Research & Technology,
Verne
SOC 2 Audited
Audited for Service Organization Controls (SOC 2 Type II) compliance.
Data Encryption & Backups
AES-256 encryption with daily backups and disaster recovery protocols.
Google Cloud Partner
Hosted on Google Cloud with data centers in Europe and the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Sibe connects to your existing SolidWorks projects through a native add-in. There is no migration, no file conversion, and no rebuild of your folder structure required. You connect your files and the revision workflow is live the same day.
No. Anyone you share a link with can open and inspect the full 3D model in any browser. No SolidWorks installation or license needed. Collaborator seats unlock commenting and markups directly on the design for those who need to leave structured feedback.
Released files are automatically locked in Sibe. They can be viewed and referenced by anyone with access, but they cannot be edited or overwritten. Any changes require a new revision cycle with its own review and approval.
Yes. External partners join the review through a secure browser link no account, no VPN, and no SolidWorks licence required. Unlimited viewers can open and rotate the full 3D model directly in their browser. Collaborator seats are only needed for those who need to add comments and markups pinned directly to the geometry. You control exactly which files each partner can access and whether they can download anything.
Sibe uses check-out / check-in directly from the SolidWorks add-in. When a file is checked out by one engineer, it is locked for editing by others. Everyone else can still view the latest checked-in version in read-only mode.
Yes. Sibe PDM maintains a log of every version, every state change, every reviewer comment, and every approval decision, all attached to the file itself. You can trace any released revision back to who requested it, who approved it, and what changed.
Sibe uses three clear states: In Progress, Pending Approval, and Released. Files move through each state as the team works, engineers iterate freely in Work in Progress, reviewers assess and comment in In Review, and approved designs are locked at Released with the next revision level assigned.
Yes. Sibe uses role-based permissions so only Owners can move a file to Released. Contributors and external reviewers can comment and flag feedback, but the final release decision stays with the people you designate.
No. Sibe runs entirely on Google Cloud. There are no servers to set up or maintain, no VPN required for remote access, and no IT project to get started. Your approval workflow is live in about 30 minutes.
Book a free Demo with Ken to see Sibe PDM in action
Ken Maren
Chief Solutions Architect
SolidWorks Expert with 30+ Years Experience
Our Customer Success team will get back to you within one business day to schedule the demo call.
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