Embracing Model Based Enterprise: manufacturing for the future

Imagine a world where there is a single source of truth, and no need to deal with multiple information flows to achieve a singular objective.

For businesses making products, this could drive major improvements to collaboration, quality and compliance and make the whole process from design to manufacturing much faster and with fewer errors.

This world is Model Based Enterprise, or MBE for short.

And it could be a step change in improving efficiency in manufacturing processes, which in turn leads to better productivity, enabling UK engineering businesses to be more competitive in both national and international markets.

At is heart, MBE sees an organisation adopt systems architecture, technologies and skills to help them exploit model-based operations. It’s a culture shift that brings interoperability and data management based on a digital system.

One of the key benefits of MBE for manufacturers is the digital 3D CAD model that contains everything a supplier needs to know in order to make a product for their customer, from precise measurements through to materials, tolerances and assembly instructions, plus everything else in between.

In fact, digital technologies can help support products throughout their entire lifecycle.

Some businesses are already working towards this approach to design and manufacturing including larger OEMs and primes, and looking at how they can achieve it with their supply chains. But it can be a daunting subject for small firms to tackle.

High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult) has been hosting events for manufacturing businesses to help demystify what this can do and help them embark on the transformation journey. Our next event is at the AMRC is on 11^th March.

Whereas the traditional design to manufacture process once relied upon 2D engineering drawings with a range of associated documentation covering much of the information needed to make a component, that approach was often far from ideal.

In manufacturing, specifications can change. Keeping on top of these changes could be almost as challenging as mass production of the component itself. Failure to do so could be costly and wasteful – manufacturers missing updates would mean they were working to specifications which were already out of date.

The jump to MBE can feel like a leap of faith. It can require considerable investment in digital infrastructure, a need to train operatives in the new approach and require time and effort integrating digital with legacy systems. Some businesses may already be on their digital journey whilst many are  just be beginning or are unsure of where to start.

Our previous MBE sessions have already helped businesses better understand the way ahead by giving them a safe space in which to ask questions. And there is no such thing as a stupid question because it is a complex subject.

In the meantime, HVM Catapult is working with digital experts within the organisation and beyond to assess the current scale of MBE adoption and look at how wider rollout might be achieved.