Can Manage Process Records drive a PDM workflow?

Yes. By design, Manage process records can assume control of lifecycle and revision management of PDM files. Ideally, this allows PDM workflows to be simplified and allows for Manage to handle all process decision-making and relegates PDM states to only need to behave as lifecycle maps and no longer must perform as approval routes as well. It remains possible however for both workflow systems to be used separately or together.