A multi-user CAx editing system may comprise a plurality of editing clients. The editing clients may be configured to maintain data consistency for geometric elements created within each local instance of a model of an engineering object. For example, each of the plurality of editing clients may include a synchronization module configured to identify one or more distinguishing parameters for each locally created geometric element and generate a unique persistent label for the geometric element, and communicate the unique persistent label and the distinguishing parameters to other editing clients. The communication may occur via a collaborative editing server. The other editing clients may find a geometric element within their local instance of the model that matches the distinguishing parameters and associate the unique persistent label with that geometric element. Subsequent references to the geometric element may be made by referring to the unique persistent label.