The MBD Mandate: Building Manufacturing's Future on a Digital Thread

CHICAGO, IL – March 23, 2026

For over a century, the 2D engineering drawing has been the undisputed language of manufacturing. A complex blueprint of lines, symbols, and notes, it has guided the creation of everything from simple brackets to sophisticated jet engines. But in an era of digital transformation and interconnected global supply chains, that language is becoming obsolete. A fundamental shift is underway as the industry moves from ambiguous, human-interpreted drawings to the clear, machine-readable world of Model-Based Definition (MBD).

This evolution is about more than simply replacing 2D paper with 3D models. True digital transformation requires a robust foundation, a trusted ecosystem where data flows seamlessly from design to production and inspection. Recognizing this, industry leaders and solution providers like Capvidia are coalescing around a framework built on four essential pillars: automation, a trusted digital thread, standards-based interoperability, and deep collaboration. These principles are redefining engineering communication and creating a new mandate for manufacturers who wish to remain competitive.

Beyond 3D Models: The Four Pillars of Digital Trust

The promise of MBD lies in embedding all critical Product and Manufacturing Information (PMI)—such as geometric dimensions, tolerances, materials, and notes—directly into the 3D model itself. This creates a single, authoritative source of truth, but its value is only realized when supported by a comprehensive strategy. The industry consensus points to four interconnected concepts that form this strategic foundation.

Automation is the first pillar, aimed at eliminating the manual, error-prone transcription of data from drawings into manufacturing and inspection software. With machine-readable PMI, information moves directly from software to software. This allows for the automated generation of machine toolpaths, coordinate measuring machine (CMM) inspection plans, and quality reports, drastically reducing setup times and human error.

This automation is powered by the digital thread, the second pillar. The digital thread is the communication framework that ensures engineering data remains traceable, interoperable, and revision-controlled throughout the product lifecycle. It connects design, manufacturing, and quality in a continuous flow, providing an unbroken chain of data from the initial concept to the final inspected part. This traceability is critical in regulated industries like aerospace and defense, where every component’s history must be meticulously documented.

None of this is possible without standards-based interoperability. This third pillar ensures that MBD data remains neutral and accessible, not locked within proprietary software silos. Open standards provide a common digital language, allowing different systems from different vendors to communicate reliably. This is essential for complex supply chains where an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and its hundreds of suppliers may use a diverse array of software tools.

Finally, these elements culminate in enhanced collaboration. When engineering intent is captured and shared unambiguously through a standards-based digital thread, communication across departments and with external partners becomes faster and clearer. The endless back-and-forth to clarify a drawing's intent is replaced by a shared understanding based on a single, data-rich model, accelerating decision-making and fostering consensus.

The Standardization Imperative: Speaking a Common Digital Language

The lynchpin holding the MBD framework together is the widespread adoption of open standards. Without them, the digital thread frays and automation fails. Two standards, in particular, have become foundational for modern MBD workflows: STEP AP242 and the Quality Information Framework (QIF).

STEP AP242, an ISO standard, has emerged as the gold standard for creating a comprehensive, model-based 3D technical data package. It allows for the rich embedding of semantic PMI—data that is not just visible to humans but also machine-readable and intelligent. This enables a 3D model to be the sole, authoritative master document, a concept that replaces the 2D drawing entirely. Its vendor-neutral format ensures that critical design intent is preserved as data moves between different CAD systems.

While STEP AP242 secures the design intent, QIF (ISO 23952) closes the loop by standardizing the communication of quality and metrology data. It provides a structured format for everything from measurement plans to inspection results, linking them directly back to the authoritative 3D model. This creates a bi-directional flow of information, allowing manufacturers to compare "as-designed" data with "as-built" results, automate the creation of inspection reports like the AS9102 First Article Inspection, and perform powerful statistical process control.

The rise of specialized software focused on interoperability highlights the critical need for data integrity. Tools that can convert native CAD formats into these open standards, validate the geometric and semantic accuracy of translated models, and automate the creation of QIF-based deliverables are becoming indispensable for companies navigating multi-vendor environments.

The Supply Chain Ripple Effect: The Lockheed Martin Mandate

The strategic importance of this digital shift is no longer theoretical. It is being actively mandated by some of the world's largest manufacturers. A prime example is Lockheed Martin, which in 2025 updated its Model-Based Enterprise (MBE) Playbook, setting clear digital expectations for its vast network of suppliers.

The playbook signals a definitive move away from drawing-based processes, requiring suppliers to be capable of consuming and utilizing model-based data packages. This top-down directive is creating a powerful ripple effect across the aerospace and defense supply chain. For OEMs like Lockheed Martin, the benefits are clear: stronger traceability, improved data quality from suppliers, and a more resilient and integrated digital enterprise. The playbook explicitly recommends driving model files toward STEP AP242 and designates QIF as the preferred format for "As-Tested" data, solidifying the role of these open standards in the industry.

For suppliers, this mandate presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While it requires investment in new skills and technology, it also promises significant efficiencies. Receiving a complete, unambiguous MBD package eliminates the need to recreate 3D models from 2D drawings, a process that can be both time-consuming and a source of errors. Industry estimates suggest that working from a rich 3D model can accelerate machining and inspection programming by up to 90%, allowing suppliers to respond faster and more accurately to customer requirements.

Overcoming the Hurdles of Digital Transformation

Despite the compelling benefits, the transition to a fully model-based environment is not without its challenges. The most significant barrier is often cultural. For decades, engineers, machinists, and inspectors have been trained to rely on 2D drawings; shifting this deep-seated mindset requires significant organizational change management, training, and a clear vision from leadership.

Furthermore, ensuring that downstream software and hardware—from CAM systems on the shop floor to CMMs in the quality lab—can fully interpret and utilize the rich PMI contained in MBD models is a complex technical hurdle. A broken link anywhere in the chain can force a reversion to manual methods, undermining the entire initiative. This is why a piecemeal approach often fails.

A structured framework, like the four pillars of automation, digital thread, interoperability, and collaboration, provides a necessary roadmap. It encourages companies to think holistically about their digital strategy rather than just adopting a new piece of software. By focusing on building a trusted, standards-based foundation first, manufacturers can ensure their investment in MBD delivers tangible returns in quality, speed, and cost reduction. This deliberate approach transforms MBD from a daunting technological overhaul into a manageable and strategic business evolution, essential for any manufacturer planning to thrive in the coming decade.