Digital Thread Solutions

For transparency, traceability and collaboration across the entire supply chain

Schaeffler

For over 70 years, the Schaeffler Group has been an active and leading supplier to the automotive and industrial sectors, driving pioneering innovations and advancements in motion and mobility. Digital advancements are an integral part of Schaeffler’s operations, offering opportunities throughout the entire business value creation process for both the company and its customers.

Engineer wearing a safety helmet using a tablet in a modern manufacturing facility.
Regulatory requirements, legislation, and evolving customer expectations present challenges in product development for companies like Schaeffler. To address these, Schaeffler has established Systems Engineering as a cross-disciplinary approach for developing complex mechatronic systems. Ensuring high customer satisfaction in terms of mechatronic products in the automotive sector requires the involvement of various domains (systems, electronics, software, mechanics, simulation, etc.) and demands the use of diverse tools and notation formats.
To manage this complexity and shorten development cycles, Schaeffler provides developers with a Digital Engineering Workplace-a powerful, secure, and compliant development environment that enables the creation of Digital Threads throughout the product development lifecycle.

Customer challenges

Increasing Complexity
As systems grow more complex, aligning requirements with implementation becomes harder. Ensuring traceability across technical artifacts requires close collaboration and transparent change management. At the same time, controlling data volume is critical to maintain efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Transparency and Data Continuity
Responding quickly to evolving requirements demands complete traceability of data. Transparent access to consistent and accurate information across all systems is critical for decision-making and system reliability. Seamless data continuity helps ensure product quality and accelerates development cycles.
Collaboration of Tools and People
For effective collaboration in a global organization, data must be centralized and made available to stakeholders based on their roles. A seamless integration of diverse tools (PLM, ALM, MBSE, ERP, ticket management, simulation, CAD) is essential—requiring an out-of-the-box solution that supports varying OSLC standards.
Transition from Document-Centric to Model- and Data-Based Development
Shifting to model- and data-driven development involves more than adopting new tools—it requires a cultural and procedural transformation. Organizations must redefine workflows, retrain teams, and adopt new technologies to move beyond traditional document-based approaches and fully realize the benefits of digital engineering.
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Strategy

Data analyst presenting financial charts and analytics on a virtual screen.

A fully integrated Digital Engineering Workplace is being developed based on enterprise systems and processes. It provides all engineering systems with a unified access point to the right product information-at the right time, in the right context-with the goal of ensuring continuous, end-to-end traceability across the development lifecycle.

A role-based user interfacemeets usability and acceptance requirements. With a modular and flexible structure, the Digital Engineering Workplace adapts to various R&D roles.
The Digital Engineering Workplace realizes the technical implementation of the skills and process steps necessary for Systems Engineering as a cross-disciplinary approach. By digitizing product development, processes are simplified and automated, enabling the management of complexity in innovative mechatronic products. Relevant information is provided role-based and in real-time.
Role-based applications are being developed as Digital Thread Solutions to realize Digital Thread across all engineering systems.

The future – the Digital Thread

Different components and evolving requirements continuously influence the Digital Thread. As a result, Digital Thread Solutions are developed and continuously refined using anindustrialized App-Factory approach, enabling rapid, iterative enhancements tailored to evolving engineering needs.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play a crucial role in the future. By linking the AI capabilities of enterprise systems with those of applications, Digital Thread Solutions enable intelligent automation and data-driven decision-making in product development.

Solutions

Based on PTC technologies, TT PSC has developed process-oriented Digital Thread Solutions for cross-system traceability, transparency, and role-based information and data availability.

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Learn how the digital thread integrates data

across silos, enabling AI-driven insights and aligning with today's ecological demands.

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The Digital Thread: optimizing your processes

Introduction to the Digital Thread and Digital Twin

The Digital Thread is a concept that enables the traceability and transparency of products and processes across their entire lifecycle. Using digital technologies such as IT systems and databases, it enhances the efficiency and quality of processes.

It is closely linked to Systems Engineering and the development of Digital Twins.
By combining Digital Thread and Digital Twin technologies, companies can optimize processes and increase competitiveness.

Benefits of the Digital Thread
  • Supported by IT systems, databases, and analytics tools.
  • Leverages the OSLC standard wherever possible, with flexible extensions if needed.
  • Displays and allows deletion of the link history.
  • Detects and flags changes to information with a "Suspect" indicator.
Digital thread technologies
  • Supported by IT systems, databases, and analytics tools.
  • Enhanced through technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
  • Integration of various systems offers a holistic view of company processes and products.
  • Cloud and mobile technologies make the Digital Thread more flexible and accessible.
Communication and collaboration
  • Digital technologies improve communication and collaboration between departments and stakeholders.
  • Collaboration tools and communication platforms make the Digital Thread more accessible.
  • Combined with collaboration efforts, the Digital Thread enhances information exchange across the organization.
Implementation and execution
  • Successful implementation of the Digital Thread requires comprehensive planning and strategy.
  • Change management methods and tools support successful deployment.
  • Trainings and workshops ensure accessibility for employees and stakeholders.
Challenges and opportunities
  • Integration of diverse systems and technologies presents both challenges and opportunities.
  • Digital technologies help overcome challenges and unlock opportunities.
  • Risk management tools enhance the security and reliability of the Digital Thread.
Profitability and outlook
  • Improved efficiency and process quality lead to economic and competitive advantages.
  • Cost-benefit analyses can make Digital Thread initiatives more economical and reliable.
  • Overall, the Digital Thread can significantly enhance a company's success.