What do I need to achieve to be MBD Ready?
Being MBD Ready is about preparing your organization to consume and reuse digital product definitions instead of relying on traditional drawings and manual processes.
Adopt MBD-based workflows and tools
Be prepared for a future where OEMs may no longer provide 2D drawings
Embrace QIF MBD as a machine-readable digital product definition
Ensure requirements are clear, complete, and unambiguous
Reduce rework and rejection risk through standards-based processes
Leverage proven MBD practices from aerospace, defense, and other industries
Transition from PDF-driven workflows to a connected digital thread
Becoming MBD Ready means moving from document-based processes to trusted digital product definitions that can be reused across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and the supply chain, helping you improve efficiency, stay compliant, and win more business.
What does a QIF MBD from OEM look like?
A QIF MBD is much more than a 3D CAD model. It is a complete, machine-readable digital product definition that provides the information needed for manufacturing, quality, inspection, and metrology processes.
3D CAD geometry with fully associated PMI
Unique identifiers (UUIDs) for traceability across the digital thread
Characteristics, dimensional tolerances, and GD&T
Visual inspection requirements, welds, notes, and specifications
Tolerance, metrology, and measurement features
Model views and engineering context
Structured data ready for quality, inspection, and manufacturing systems
A QIF MBD from an OEM delivers the complete digital definition of the product, including geometry, PMI, characteristics, features, and traceability information, so suppliers can automate manufacturing, inspection, and quality workflows without relying on traditional drawings.
What is a typical QIF MBD workflow?
A QIF MBD workflow creates a continuous digital thread from design through inspection by connecting the product definition directly to quality and measurement processes.
Publish MBD by exporting native CAD models to ISO QIF MBD
Automatically balloon PMI and generate a structured Bill of Characteristics (BoC)
Create measurement plans that can be consumed directly by CMM and scanning software
Publish FAI and quality results through QIF Results, Excel, Net-Inspect, or custom reporting workflows
Harvest as-built inspection data and connect results back to the original QIF MBD
Maintain traceability between design requirements and inspection outcomes
Create a QIF MBD once, use it to drive inspection planning and execution, capture measurement results, and feed those results back into the digital thread, creating a living digital twin throughout the product lifecycle.
What do you deliver back to your OEM?
A digital thread is only complete when inspection and measurement results are connected back to the original product definition.
Suppliers deliver QIF Results containing measurement and inspection data linked directly to the OEM's QIF MBD. Results can also be exchanged through Excel, Net-Inspect, or other customer-specific quality workflows.
Deliver measurement results linked to characteristic UUIDs
Maintain full digital traceability from design to inspection
Use an open, ISO-standard XML format
Support quality reporting, analytics, and SPC initiatives
Enable closed-loop quality across the supply chain
Provide AI-ready, machine-readable data with full context
Suppliers return inspection results that remain connected to the OEM's original QIF MBD, creating a traceable, digital record of product quality and supporting a true closed-loop digital thread.
What ROI/benefits should you expect?
Companies adopting MBE are seeing significant improvements in quality, speed, and efficiency across the product lifecycle.
40% faster document creation and 60% reduction in FAI time
Up to 70% reduction in manufacturing and quality programming effort
90% fewer product non-conformances
Up to 40% faster time-to-market
Reduced inspection costs and faster inspection planning
Lower risk of transcription and interpretation errors
MBE helps organizations deliver products faster, improve quality, reduce rework, and create a reliable digital thread from engineering through manufacturing and inspection.
How to use 2D drawings as an entry to MBD?
Many organizations are not ready to move directly from traditional drawings to full 3D MBD. QIF provides a practical bridge by supporting both 2D and 3D characteristics, allowing companies to begin their digital transformation using the drawings they already have.
Convert 2D drawing characteristics into QIF data
Use OCR to automatically capture dimensions, GD&T, and annotations
Create a digital Bill of Characteristics directly from drawings
Connect 2D QIF data with future 3D QIF MBD workflows
Reuse inspection results across both 2D and 3D quality processes
2D QIF allows organizations to start building a structured, machine-readable digital thread from existing drawings today, creating a smooth and low-risk path toward full 3D QIF MBD adoption tomorrow.
