Feature

The ‘digital thread’: Bridging the gap between design and production

The disconnect between design and production continues to plague many manufacturing projects. Errors and inefficiencies arise when intricate details fail to translate seamlessly from the digital world to the factory floor. Enter, the ‘digital thread’ concept – a single source of truth that links data with manufacturing processes.

07/01/2025 10:02:41

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Here, Simon Farnfield, Event Director of Advanced Engineering, explores the potential of this technology to streamline communication, eliminate errors and accelerate time to market for new products.

As modern design software and advanced production machinery, like production-scale 3D printers, continue to emerge, manufacturers are exploring the limits of what’s possible. According to Make UK and PwC’s 2024 Executive Survey, 71 percent of firms agree digital tech will drive productivity. Despite this optimism, manufacturers face a glaring problem – a disconnect between designers and production staff.

Converting a well-thought-out concept into a complex product is a delicate process, and intricate details can be easily lost when transferred from a digital file to the factory floor. Quality errors emerge when a product’s execution fails to meet the standards set by the initial design.

On the other hand, design errors occur when the envisioned product promises more than what current manufacturing capabilities or quality controls can achieve. We often see these mismatches on the factory floor, where rapid innovation quickly overtakes production practicalities.

Read the full article in DPA's January 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.