Starting with release 16, Creo CADDS 5 contains functionality for managing business objects. Business objects are groups of end items that are considered a single unit within a product structure. They are revision-controlled and are managed throughout a lifecycle.

For example, a design for a ship might contain a pipeline. Within that pipeline are numerous sections of pipe, pipe spools, valves, fittings, and other parts. Each of those parts is an end item, and the pipeline as a whole is considered a business object.

Business objects (as well as end items) are represented as model items in Windchill — a new object type starting with Windchill release 10.0. Model items serve to expose information in Windchill that would otherwise be hidden. Model items exist as child objects of a CAD document. Each model item represents an individual business object (or end item), and are grouped together under the CAD document which represents the CAD part as a whole.

These individual business objects can be seen in the Creo CADDS 5 Business Object Explorer, and also in the Windchill Workgroup Manager Edit Association and Auto Associate Parts functions, where each business object/model item is represented by a single Windchill part.