What does a typical MBE workflow look like?
OEM with Supply Chain
Traditional drawing-based processes often create disconnected workflows, making it difficult to communicate requirements, maintain traceability, and connect inspection results back to the product definition.
With an MBE workflow, OEMs and suppliers collaborate using a shared QIF MBD-based digital product definition, creating a trusted digital thread from design through manufacturing, inspection, and quality.
OEM provides a machine-readable QIF MBD product definition
Suppliers reuse the same data for manufacturing and inspection planning
Inspection results remain connected to the original characteristics
Requirements, feedback, and quality data stay traceable throughout the lifecycle
Enable a digital thread foundation for AI-driven insights and decision-making
OEMs define the product once, suppliers reuse the same trusted digital definition, and inspection results flow back into the digital thread, creating a connected, traceable, and data-driven MBE workflow across the supply chain.
AS 9102 workflows
AS9102 compliance starts with a trusted digital product definition. Instead of manually identifying characteristics and creating FAIR documentation, an MBE workflow reuses the data already embedded in the model or drawing.
Capture characteristics automatically from MBD or ballooned drawings
Generate the Bill of Characteristics (BoC)
Create AS9102 FAIR reports directly from inspection data
Import measurement results and inspection outcomes
Maintain full traceability from design to quality
Engineering defines the product once, quality reuses the same data to generate the FAIR, and inspection results are connected back to the original characteristics, creating a complete digital thread for AS9102 compliance.
Net - Inspect
A connected MBE workflow eliminates manual data re-entry between engineering, inspection planning, and quality systems.
Generate the Bill of Characteristics (BoC) from the model or drawing
Publish FAIRs directly to Net-Inspect
Append or replace characteristics as designs evolve
Import measurement results back into MBDVidia
Maintain traceability between design, inspection, and quality data
Engineering creates the characteristics once, quality publishes them to Net-Inspect for execution, and inspection results flow back into the digital thread, keeping everyone connected to the same source of truth.
CMM and Scanning
With a traditional workflow, inspection planning often requires manual interpretation of drawings and model data. With QIF MBD, the inspection process becomes part of the digital thread from the start.
Use QIF MBD to automate CMM and scanning workflows
Generate measurement plans directly from machine-readable PMI
Reduce measurement planning time by up to 75%
Enable consistent and repeatable inspection planning
Improve inspection quality and reduce manual interpretation
Connect inspection results directly back to the QIF MBD
Engineering creates the QIF MBD once, metrology automatically consumes it for CMM programming and scanning, and inspection results are linked back to the original model, extending the digital thread all the way to the quality department.
Visual Inspection with QIF MBD
Visual inspection is no longer a disconnected manual process. With QIF MBD, visual inspection requirements become part of the digital thread and can be planned and executed using the same digital product definition used across engineering and quality.
Use QIF MBD as the foundation for visual inspection
Automate inspection planning with Kitov and QIF MBD
Support visual characteristics such as labels, surfaces, fasteners, barcodes, and positions
Connect visual inspection requirements directly to the product definition
Improve inspection speed, consistency, and quality
Engineers define visual inspection requirements once in the QIF MBD, automated inspection systems consume that information directly, and the results remain connected to the digital thread for full traceability.
Welding with QIF MBD
Welding is another area where QIF MBD extends the digital thread beyond engineering and into manufacturing and quality processes. By using machine-readable weld information directly from the model, teams can reduce manual effort and improve consistency.
Generate weld work instructions directly from the MBD
Support automated weld robot programming
Enable more accurate cost estimation
Simplify weld quality assurance and documentation
Maintain traceability between design, manufacturing, and inspection
Engineers define weld requirements once in the QIF MBD model, manufacturing reuses that information for planning and automation, and quality uses the same data for verification, creating a connected digital thread for the entire welding process.
How do you automate the Digital Thread with your PLM?
A digital thread is most valuable when engineering data and inspection results remain connected throughout the product lifecycle. By integrating PLM/PDM systems with QIF MBD, organizations can automatically deliver trusted product data to manufacturing and metrology while maintaining full traceability.
Publish QIF MBD directly from PLM/PDM
Drive CMM and scanning workflows with machine-readable data
Exchange data with leading metrology software
Capture and connect QIF measurement results
Maintain traceability from design intent to as-built results
PLM manages the product definition, QIF MBD drives inspection execution, and QIF Results flow back into the digital thread, creating a closed-loop connection between engineering and quality.
What is some ROI/benefits that companies are seeing?
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.
