Ten Imperatives for Model-Based Enterprise

The idea of achieving a model-based enterprise is catching on like a wildfire. Companies are becoming more aware that being fast to market at low cost and rapid response to requirements is essential for success, whether the customer is the government, the college student, or "Joe the plumber." We are seeing early implementations with dramatic impacts. Impacts, like a ten-fold reduction in response time from requirements to complete manufacturing plans and a factor of five times reduction in the cost and time of managing change, are being documented. Forty to sixty percent total impact in cost and time of all engineering functions, and reductions in manufacturing costs due to improved processes and process control are being realized. With these benefits from early implementation coming to fruition, imagine what could be accomplished if we developed a methodology and toolset to support a broadly implemented infrastructure – raising the level of all boats – and delivering a national global economic advantage. Toward that end, IMTI continues to refine the Intelligent and Integrated Manufacturing Systems document, and continues to seek the compelling business case for implementation. The “full load” of the IIMS document is overwhelming: we are dedicated to defining the vision in clearer terms. To begin a conversation that we hope will be important in 2010, we offer ten imperatives for achieving the model-based enterprise:

• Intelligent conceptualization & visualization capability supporting innovation in product and process design.
• Requirements-driven, accurate cost and risk modeling that supports trades for optimization.
• A complete, intelligent, product definition capable of driving all downstream applications.
• Automated, integrated, knowledge-based design and manufacturing planning advisors.
• Interoperable, accurate, and pervasive models that enable integration of processes across the enterprise.
• Integration of business, product realization, and operations functions.
• Model-Ready Supply Network that functions in a globally collaborative environment.
• Complete virtual product documentation that provides a comprehensive Technical Data Package integrating as-designed, as-planned, as-built, and as-used.
• Model-Based operations systems that drive production and sustainment, including model-based control.
• A flexible, well trained workforce enabled for model-based design and manufacturing.

Please note that there is no claim that these are “The Ten”. They are a starting point for exploration as we seek to identify the important goals, define our present capability, and put in place solutions that fill the voids and move us to the realization of a rapid response, cost effective, assured quality design and manufacturing environment. After all, it doesn’t matter what you call it; the goal is dramatically better performance.