The Digital Thread

The Digital Thread enables cross-functional teams spanning different organizations to easily and reliably communicate. Today’s complex product development processes demand collaboration throughout the product life cycle including procurement, design, manufacturing and field service.

Digital Engineering processes require the elimination of paper with digital conversations. Utilizing a browser-based tool eliminates the needs of multiple departments to learn a new tool. Engineering, manufacturing, and procurement can review a BOM as a digital conversation.

The Digital Thread can offer huge value in the procurement process. An OEM can source a part to multiple suppliers and have private digital conversations with each. A technical data package is part of the conversation.  The activity may be to acquire part ABC-001.  That activity can have 10 concurrent conversations with 10 suppliers. The purchase history of that part in now part of the permanent design record.

The manufacturing floor has become more connected and so does the organization. The Digital Thread can bring workflows using augmented reality to manufacturing with assembly instructions. Data can be collected from those processes to provide insight into work completed and quality.

Field service is an important factor when considering the Digital Transformation. Technical data needs to be available on mobile devices along with work instructions and in some cases the use of Augmented Reality. Repair records need to become part of the Digital Thread to measure product performance and reliability. Field service records can be the foundation for quality improvement leading to customer satisfaction.

The process is based on a model built upon relationships. The model replaces the document-based design. The model is typically created by the Systems Engineering team who converts system purpose into structure, behavior, and requirements.  The model is considered the single source of truth.

Many companies struggle with design reviews which are typically done through emails and meetings. The approval process may be nothing more than an email. The Digital Thread offers the ability to define a Design Review as an activity comprised of multiple conversations on the BOM, SI, Power, manufacturing, etc.  The activity approver has all this information upon which to base their decision.

The model must remain relevant through the product development process. This is accomplished through verification gates which are comprised of a set of verification requirements. The design can not proceed to the next development phase until the gate requirements are satisfied.  This ensures the product is consistent with the model.