Mindy Hayes is a Content Specialist working out of the PTC Portland, Maine office. She received a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Maine, and has experience writing for several different industries throughout her career. When she is not working you can find Mindy reading, attempting various DIY projects, or spending time with friends and family.
What is digital engineering?
Digital engineering combines both technical and cultural aspects of product engineering that leverages comprehensive digital models of complex products slated for development. These data-rich product maps enable seamless integrations from design and development to delivery and ongoing support. Unlike traditional systems engineering frameworks, digital engineering emphasizes agility and performance.
What are the benefits of digital engineering?
Because digital engineering builds on traditional product engineering with innovative technology tools, processes, and culture, it can more effectively maximize quality and lower risk in a complex product or system from concept to retirement. The objectives of any type of digitalization effort are generally threefold:
- Increase visibility and accessibility to data
- Expedite well-informed decisions using that data
- Better access to and application of metrics for improvements (i.e., cost, quality, development time, and equipment availability)
Intelligent digital models enable teams to iterate faster, experiment with designs, and identify both opportunities and solutions early in the development process. The continuity provided by a digital thread fosters collaboration and cross-team communication, improving efficiency, quality, and decision-making across the organization.
What is the role of PLM in digital engineering?
Product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions are the backbone for digital engineering. Because it mandates an architecture with an authoritative source of truth, PLM is the perfect, centralized platform to support it. Beyond tracking a product’s lifecycle from ideation to retirement, PLM solutions can support digital twin simulations in a controlled environment and collect data into an organized repository. PLM solutions enhance productivity, improve quality, and reduce costs to support the central tenants of digital engineering.
Why is digital engineering important to the DOD?
Digital engineering plays a big role for the US Department of Defense (DOD) and its weapon system development. Keeping pace in the constantly evolving field of defense is a matter of national security, and digital engineering is an invaluable means for the DOD to operate with efficiency and agility. Geopolitics and technological innovation are swift and erratic forces, meaning that the DOD is in a perpetual state of anticipating and reacting to unprecedented complexities. This pressing need for constant agility makes digital engineering a critical practice that supports both acquisition (developing new systems) and sustainment (maintaining existing systems). As of 2024, the DOD requires digital engineering technology for new acquisition programs, and for digital engineering procedures to be implemented as early as possible in program planning.
All of this aligns with the National Defense Strategy, which emphasizes delivering rapid capabilities to the warfighter, by optimizing processes and enabling data-driven decisions. It should also be noted that the DOD often sets the pace for this type of policy adoption, so NASA, DOE, and other agencies are likely watching it closely.
How does the DOD utilize digital engineering strategies?
Whether it is enabling collaboration, digital models and traceability, analytics through digital threads, or digital artifacts, the DOD strategically employs digital engineering to enhance its capabilities across various domains.
Useful strategy types
There are several general strategy types in digital engineering, from discovery-focused strategies that identify opportunities and potential issues to operational excellence strategies to optimize operations and reduce costs. The DOD leverages digital engineering for the following strategies.
Formalized development and models
To streamline development, the DOD has incorporated models and simulations as part of their formal process. Models represent actual or conceptual systems using physics, mathematics, or logical expressions. Simulations demonstrate model implementations over time, allowing the DOD to vet requirements and assess changes. Using both models and simulations enhances decision-making and better informs stakeholders. They also accelerate development as they are not subject to the same limitations as field tests, further fostering agility in engineering.
Authoritative source of truth
The success of digital engineering relies on authoritative sources of systems throughout its a product's lifecycle. With a PLM solution as the source of truth, the DOD ensures consistent, reliable information for all stakeholders. With an authoritative source of truth, they can expect better collaboration and fewer errors.
Technological innovation
To embrace innovation, the DOD uses cutting-edge tools, analytics, and data sciences. Leveraging the latest technology means rapid prototyping, early defect detection, and improvements to overall engineering practices. Not to mention, investing in innovative technologies can save on time and reduce costly errors that impede breakthroughs and put projects at risk.
Infrastructure and environments
Establishing a robust digital engineering ecosystem requires a supportive infrastructure. Collaborative environments, such as the Digital Engineering Ecosystem (DEE), enable seamless integrations that facilitate frequent design iterations and testing.
Workplace culture transformation
Reasonably, embracing digital engineering requires more than implementing new technologies and processes. The DOD’s culture and workforce must shift to emphasize agility, data-driven decision-making, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Through training and awareness programs, they can encourage and empower their personnel to apply digital practices and tools effectively.
Quality digital engineering services
All of the DOD’s quality strategies align with, and are supported by, digital engineering practices. The DOD has implemented a Quality Management Plan (QMP), which outlines how a program intends to implement quality measures (quality control, quality assurance, and continuous process improvement) in accordance with the organization quality policies. They also focus on Manufacturing and Quality (M&Q) engineering to mitigate industrial risks during transitions from defense laboratories to the warfighter. This can include manufacturing planning, cost estimation, production, quality assurance, and more.
PLM solutions also benefit broader quality initiatives. Automated processes and standardized workflows mitigate errors and enforce best practices. The digital thread established by PLM enables traceable product data across the enterprise. PLM also fosters collaboration by providing all contributors an accessible source of truth so everyone is working with the latest information – not to mention continuous improvement capabilities through its feedback loops.
Digital engineering and data transformation
By harnessing the power of digital engineering and data transformation, private and public-sector organizations can stay competitive, agile, and resilient.
Services and digital management
Digital engineering enables a seamless integration of digital models across the product lifecycle. From design to delivery, digital engineering services empower informed decision-making, reduced errors, and improved collaboration.
Modernization through application
Modern innovation requires modern tools. Digital engineering transforms outdated processes into agile, data-driven workflows. By applying digital engineering principles, organizations can refine their processes and revitalize their operations.
Adaptive operation models
The rapid pace of technology demands adaptability. Adaptive operation models allow organizations to respond swiftly to changing requirements, threats, and opportunities. Through these models, users can discover strategies for staying ahead of the curve.
Goals of digital engineering in DOD
Technological advancement of equipment
Through artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced simulations, the DOD can design, develop, and maintain state-of-the-art systems. While ensuring that our armed forces have access to the most advanced tools available, these advancements can reduce costs and support mission efficacy.
Identifying risks
Risk management is critical throughout the entire lifecycle of a system. Through modeling, simulation, and analysis, risks can be identified and addressed early on. This proactive approach for the DOD ensures that our military systems are robust, reliable, and resilient.
Testing designs
Virtual prototypes allow engineers to simulate various scenarios, assess performance under different conditions, and validate designs. The DOD can accelerate development by reducing costly physical tests while ensuring that systems meet the necessary requirements.
Ideal transformation
Digital engineering empowers the DOD to innovate, enhance security, and maintain a technological edge. To achieve an ideal transformation, the DOD is aiming for seamless interoperability between systems and platforms; agility to adapt quickly to changing threats and requirements; efficient lifecycle management from concept to sunset; and strong collaborative environments that promote cross-functional teamwork.
PTC Weighs In
The DOD 5000.97 Instruction is a practical means for taking digital engineering from a recommendation to a responsibility for the entire organization and the Defense Industrial Base. Learn what this new reality means for the government and industry, and gain insights on the DOD digital engineering capability elements from PTC’s perspective in our webinar.
Watch the Video