A method for communicating with a database for product life cycle support (PLCS database), the method comprising receiving from a first client apparatus a first communication containing an input data item for entry in the PLCS database and a first identifier identifying the input data item; correlating the first identifier with a data field used in the PLCS database amongst all data fields used in the PLCS database thereby identifying a correlated data field of the PLCS database to be associated with the input data item; searching the PLCS database to access an entry therein associated with the correlated data field; updating the entry of the PLCS database according to the input data item; re-correlating said correlated data field of the PLCS database with a second identifier associated with a second client apparatus; outputting to the second client apparatus a second communication containing an output data item according to the updated PLCS database entry which includes said second identifier identifying the output data item to the second client apparatus.