Testing the Digital Thread in Support of Model Based Manufacturing and Inspection

Abstract

A number of manufacturing companies have reported anecdotal evidence describing the benefits of modelbased enterprise (MBE). Based on this evidence, major players in industry have embraced a vision to deploy MBE. In our view, the best chance of realizing this vision is the creation of a single “digital thread.â€‌ Under MBE, there exists a modelbased definition (MBD), created by the Engineering function, which downstream functions reuse to complete modelbased manufacturing and modelbased inspection activities. The ensemble of data that enables the combination of MBD, manufacturing, and inspection defines this digital thread. Such a digital thread would enable realtime design and analysis, collaborative processflow development, automated artifact creation, and fullprocess traceability in a seamless realtime collaborative development among project participants. This paper documents the strengths and weaknesses in the current, industry strategies for implementing MBE. It also identifies gaps in the transition and/or exchange of data between various manufacturing processes. Finally, this paper presents measured results from a study of modelbased processes compared to drawingbased processes and provides evidence to support the anecdotal evidence and vision made by industry.