Model-Based Product Development: A New Era in Engineering

Blog • CAD & Simulation

The evolution of model-based definition (MBD) is revolutionizing manufacturing and service processes. Yet, in the ever-evolving world of engineering and design, model-based product development (MBPD) stands out as a transformative approach. This methodology is not just about creating products; it’s about envisioning them through comprehensive models, streamlining processes, and ensuring efficiency from conception to completion.

Model-Based Product Development (MBPD) is a paradigm shift from traditional product design methods. Instead of relying solely on physical prototypes and disjointed tools, engineers use virtual models to simulate product performance, incorporating various inputs and outputs. These models serve as the building blocks, providing a coherent and understandable framework for the entire development cycle.

Historically, while engineering celebrated the use of 3D models for enterprise-wide applications, it lagged in adopting a truly model-centric mindset throughout its design processes. Beyond the primary CAD model, engineers often opted for diverse software solutions, catering to specific functions like simulation, generative design, and documentation.

Such a diverse toolkit, although vital for crafting modern products, introduces challenges. The primary issue? These best-of-breed tools don’t share a universal file format. This disparity forces engineers into tedious manual workarounds to bridge data and models between platforms, diverting their focus from innovative tasks.

Programs like PTC Creo pioneered top-tier parametric modeling, ensuring that changes in one model segment automatically reflect across related components. However, the introduction of standalone solutions for tasks like simulation disrupts this seamless design flow. The result? Engineers juggle multiple tools, leading to inefficient cycles of data import, export, and translation.

Fortunately, the landscape is changing. CAD tools, once limited in auxiliary functions, now boast a plethora of advanced features. Platforms like PTC Creo have expanded to include generative design, real-time simulation, and more, all under a unified environment sharing a consistent CAD file format.

By leveraging a unified tool infrastructure and a singular 3D model, engineering teams can harness the efficiency benefits that other departments gain from model-based product development practices. Data from PTC reveals that a solid MBPD strategy can expedite documentation by 40%, slash first article inspection durations by 60%, and reduce product discrepancies by a staggering 90%. It’s evident that design and engineering processes stand to gain immensely from such advancements.

In conclusion, the call to action is clear: Engineering sectors must champion the model-centric ethos they advocate. By doing so, they can unlock the transformative potential of model-based product development, propelling the entire enterprise towards a unified, model-driven vision to drive transformative change.

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