PDP software

Product development process (PDP) software in a manufacturing enterprise can basically be categorized as CAD, CAM, CAE, PDM/PLM and so on…
Is it acceptable for one to evaluate or compare software from different categories in terms of the same goal? e.g which software performs better in the PDP for realization of a given product feature ‘x’, Pro/E (CAD) or windchill (PLM)?