AI governance for engineering: roles, approvals and logging
In short
AI governance for engineering is the set of roles, approvals and rules that decides which AI applications may use which design data and models, and how their use is logged. We set it up with you on your platform, aligned with IT security, data protection and the works council.
Updated 27 Oct 2026
Once several departments use AI, someone has to decide which applications go live, which data they may read, which models may process design data and what is logged. Governance answers these questions with a few clear roles and rules, so new applications get approved quickly and audits find what they look for.
- Start with
- Intro callfree, 45 minutes
- Billing
- Day rates€790 engineer day · €990 lead day
- Systems
- SolidWorks PDM, Autodesk Vault, 3DEXPERIENCE, Solid Edge, SolidWorks
How it works
- 01
Name the roles
A platform owner in IT, an application owner in each department, a data owner per source such as the PDM, and the users. Each role has clear decisions, for example the data owner approves which vaults an application may read.
- 02
Approve applications
Every new application passes a short approval: purpose, data sources, model, allowed actions and test result. Applications that change CAD or PDM data show every change as a preview, and an engineer confirms it.
- 03
Set model and data rules
Design data is sorted into classes, for example internal, confidential, customer data under NDA and export-controlled. Each class gets the models and hosting it may use, such as only models in your EU tenant for confidential drawings.
- 04
Log and review
Requests, sources used, model version and actions are logged with user and time. Retention periods and who may evaluate the logs are agreed with data protection and the works council.
What you get
Roles and responsibilities
A short description of each role with its decisions, named people and deputies.
Approval process for applications
A one-page template per application and a defined path from idea to go-live, including the test result that is required.
Model and data policy
Which models are approved for which data classes, how customer drawings and export-controlled data are handled, and what may leave your tenant.
Logging concept
What is logged, how long it is kept and who may evaluate it, ready for the agreement with data protection and the works council.
Limits
A rule only works where the platform can enforce it, so every rule is checked for whether permissions, model settings or logging can carry it. Too many approval steps slow down useful applications and push users towards unapproved tools. The EU AI Act sorts AI systems by risk: AI that supports design, purchasing or documentation work is usually not among the high-risk uses it lists, while AI built into a machine as a safety component can be. We place the Act in context and give no legal advice. The legal assessment stays with your lawyers and your data protection officer.
Systems
- SolidWorks PDM
- Autodesk Vault
- 3DEXPERIENCE
- Solid Edge
- SolidWorks
Frequently asked questions
What does AI governance in engineering cover?
AI governance in engineering covers who approves and runs AI applications, which design data and models each application may use, which actions it may take in CAD and PDM, and what is logged for how long. It turns existing company rules on IT security, data protection and confidentiality into rules that the AI platform can enforce.
Which roles does AI governance need in a mechanical engineering company?
Four roles cover most cases: a platform owner, usually in IT, who runs the platform and approves models; an application owner in each department who answers for purpose and results; a data owner per source, such as the PDM administrator, who approves access; and the users. Data protection and the works council join where logs relate to employees.
How should confidential design data be handled when using language models?
Classify the data first, then allow each class only the models and hosting that fit. Typical rules: confidential and customer data only in models hosted in the company tenant in an EU region, export-controlled data only where export rules allow it, and provider terms that exclude training on company data. Public chat services stay closed for design data.
What should be logged when AI agents work with CAD and PDM data?
At least the user, time, application, model and version, the data sources used and every action with its result, for example a changed property in the PDM and who confirmed it. Logs make answers traceable and show where an application errs. Because logs relate to employees, retention and evaluation are agreed with data protection and the works council.
Talk to us about your task.
In the free 45-minute intro call we show a live demo on comparable geometry. Someone from our team replies personally within one working day.