Action Engineering releases MBD data standards playbook from MxD project

Action Engineering completed an MxD-funded project that maps how manufacturers can apply data standards to model-based definition workflows across engineering, manufacturing and quality. The new playbook and demo are meant to help U.S. manufacturers and suppliers reduce rework, improve interoperability and make 3D model data usable across systems.

Why it matters: - U.S. manufacturers still face overlapping, inconsistently applied data standards that make 3D model data hard to use across engineering, manufacturing and quality. - The project is aimed at reducing rework, improving interoperability and helping defense and industrial suppliers move toward standards-based MBD workflows. - The new guidance is meant to help manufacturers choose standards that fit their tools and processes instead of forcing one rigid implementation path.

What happened: - Action Engineering completed an MxD-funded project on how data standards apply to model-based definition manufacturing workflows. - The project focused on workflows used by U.S. manufacturers supporting the Department of Defense and the broader manufacturing base. - Action Engineering executed the work with Rubypoint, Capvidia and Lockheed Martin. - The company released a Data Standards Playbook and a workflow demonstration video. - The materials are available on the Action Engineering website and the MxD Member xChange.

The details: - The team examined five real-world MBD manufacturing workflows: ballooning, CMM, virtual assembly, adaptive CNC and connected MES. - Ballooning focused on tracking features and characteristics from design and engineering into downstream manufacturing and quality activity. - CMM work centered on digital metrology consumption of MBD so inspection programs can be generated with a high degree of automation. - Virtual assembly used as-built product data in tolerance analysis and cost estimation software to improve design based on production results. - Adaptive CNC fed as-built product data back to machine tools so programs could update automatically based on actual dimensional information. - Connected MES gathered shop floor and inspection data through MES while keeping traceability to the master model and characteristics in PLM. - The work relied on interviews with OEMs, suppliers and software providers including Lockheed Martin, GD-OTS, Moog, Donaldson Company, Capvidia, Kotem, Siemens, Wolfram Manufacturing and Met-L-Flo. - Interviewees included technical fellows, directors of engineering, quality and design engineers, data scientists and MBE managers. - Deliverables include a technical report on the current standards landscape, a standards and guidelines crosswalk for non-technical audiences, and a workflow demonstration video showing application of standards including QIF and STEP. - The playbook provides recommended data standards for MBD manufacturing, a gap analysis of existing standards and guidance for improving data interoperability.

Between the lines: - The project found that the biggest barriers are often organizational, not technical. - Two-dimensional habits carried into three-dimensional work, workforce turnover, training gaps and uneven GD&T knowledge were the most common obstacles. - The workload often lands on engineering before downstream teams see the benefits, which can slow adoption. - Confidence in software tooling was the leading technical concern. - QIF, STEP AP242 and native CAD were the standards cited most often as already in use. - Each organization interviewed applies MBD and data standards differently within its existing software stack, which supports the need for a reference guide rather than a single prescribed path.

What's next: - Action Engineering says the playbook and demo show what is possible for manufacturers of all sizes and for OEMs pushing suppliers toward standards-based MBD workflows. - The anticipated next phase would pair with a representative set of manufacturers to build implementation roadmaps. - Those roadmaps would cover how to get started, expected benefits, technology stacks matched to available resources and workforce adoption. - Action Engineering, founded in 2008, has worked with more than 180 organizations across defense, aerospace, automotive and government. - MxD is a public-private partnership and manufacturing innovation institute focused on advancing the digital transformation of U.S. manufacturing.