Reduction in development and production times
Digital Threads: The Future of Product Development in Your Industry
Put an end to the era of data silos. With an end-to-end digital thread, you can integrate business processes, engineering and manufacturing into a highly efficient whole. Reduce your time-to-market and secure a decisive advantage on the path to becoming a digital enterprise.
Are you struggling with fragmented information?
Poor data quality and siloed systems are not just IT problems – they are obstacles to growth. Statistically speaking, a lack of data transparency costs companies 15–25 per cent of their turnover every year.
Do you recognise these challenges?
- a lack of end-to-end transparency throughout the entire product life cycle
- isolated data and systems across development, manufacturing and service
- limited cooperation between departments
- increasing complexity in product development and production
- late design changes involving significant costs and time
- Limited basis for decision-making due to the lack of an end-to-end view
Essential
What is the Digital Thread?
The Digital Thread is not a single tool, but rather the coherent flow of all product-related data throughout the entire lifecycle. It is the logical link between requirements, design, simulation, manufacturing and service.
From data silos to a single source of truth: rather than keeping information hidden away in departments, the Digital Thread ensures it is consistent and available to all stakeholders in real time. For the first time, product data can be utilised holistically – enabling better decisions and unlocking new business potential.
Making transformation measurable
Without a digital thread
- –Isolated systems: Information is scattered and not linked.
- –Manual effort: Significant time wasted due to having to enter data multiple times.
- –Sequential work: departments have to wait for one another.
- –High error rate: costly changes at a late stage.
With Digital Thread
- –End-to-end connectivity: Consistent data across all phases.
- –Automation: Changes have an immediate impact on the entire process.
- –Parallel engineering: Accelerated industrialisation.
- –First-Time-Right: Simulations ensure quality at an early stage.
From concept to practice
Success Stories
A digital thread is only valuable if it works in day-to-day operations. The following examples show how companies bring together data from engineering, manufacturing and service, thereby gaining transparency, traceability and speed.
Mercury Systems: Data transparency through low-code innovation
Mercury Systems, a leading provider of mission-critical technologies for the aerospace industry, is breaking down data silos. By combining Mendix and Teamcenter, the company is creating a centralised visualisation portal that makes complex development data accessible within a seamless digital thread.
“The pace of our innovation is now so fast that we need to adapt to the pace of business – and this is exactly the kind of architecture we now have in place.” — Anu Mishra, VP of Application Engineering, Mercury Systems
- 20+ bespoke applications: Rapid delivery of tailor-made solutions for engineering and manufacturing
- Central ‘single point of truth’: Seamless integration of data from PLM, ERP and CAD into a single interface
- Accelerated innovation: Drastically shorter development cycles through agile low-code processes and cloud-native architecture
toolcraft: Maximum traceability in 3D metal printing
toolcraft AG, a pioneer in additive manufacturing, relies on a seamless process chain. By using NX, the company consolidates all stages – from design through topology optimisation to metrological testing – into a single digital thread.
“With Siemens NX, we work with just one file throughout the process chain. This reduces complexity, saves time and significantly lowers the error rate.” — Ralf Domider, Engineering and Simulation, Metal Laser Melting, toolcraft AG
- Drastically reduced error rates: working with a single file throughout the entire process chain
- Seamless traceability: Full traceability of all process steps, which is crucial for customers in the aviation and medical technology sectors
- Greater agility: Design changes are immediately communicated to all downstream processes (printing, machining, measurement)
SCS Interiors: From craftsmanship to digital precision
The family-run business SCS Interiors is transforming the manufacture of aircraft and vehicle interiors. By using NX and Mastertrim, SCS Interiors is replacing time-consuming manual prototyping with a seamless digital thread that perfectly integrates design and manufacturing.
“It is absolutely crucial to be able to design in the virtual world and show the customer high-quality images that can be produced exactly as shown.” — Mike Hudyma, President and Co-founder, SCS Interiors
- 40% time saving in the development of seat patterns
- 50% faster turnaround time from design to finished product
- Precision from the very first attempt: reducing errors through digital simulation of creasing and material stretching
How the Digital Thread drives your business forward.
The Digital Thread is far more than just a technical concept – it is a driver of growth.
Shorten time-to-market
Shorter development cycles thanks to seamless data flows.
Maximum efficiency
Less manual effort thanks to automated workflows.
Superior quality
Direct feedback loops for fault-free products.
Legal certainty
Seamless traceability and automated compliance.
Service Excellence
Faster maintenance thanks to up-to-date engineering data.
Maximum ROI
Higher enterprise value through optimised cost structures.
Digital Threads in action
Real results from industry leaders
White paper: Digital Engineering
Maximise your performance through an open ecosystem. Find out how to combine the Digital Thread and the Digital Twin to reduce costs and accelerate innovation.
STRATEGY & INDUSTRIES
3 steps to get your Digital Thread strategy off the ground:
- Identification of existing data silos.
Digital Threads for all sectors:
Aerospace
Automotive industry
Consumer goods
Electronics
Energy
Agriculture
Mechanical and Plant Engineering
Shipbuilding & the maritime industry
Life Sciences & Medical Technology
Semiconductor industry
Industry-related services
Battery industry
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions.
We’re happy to answer any questions you may have. Together, we’ll find a solution.