Integrating PLM, MES, and the supply chain through a continuous Digital Thread
The Digital Thread is the central link of digital transformation in modern enterprises. As a digital thread, it connects and guides users directly to all relevant information and data generated throughout the entire product lifecycle - from the first idea through development, production, and use to disposal. By implementing a Digital Thread, all relevant data and processes are connected across departments. This creates a continuous and transparent flow of data, breaking down silos and promoting collaboration between different teams and systems.
With Digital Thread Solutions, you can create the foundation for end-to-end digitalization of product development.
Our role-based applications connect people, processes, and technologies across the entire product lifecycle, including manufacturing execution systems (MES) and extended supply chain processes. This enables end-to-end traceability, real-time feedback, and higher manufacturing resilience. Especially in industries such as automotive, mechanical engineering, and aerospace, but also in others such as shipbuilding, energy, and manufacturing, the Digital Thread plays a decisive role.
The diverse applications of the Digital Thread in these industries range from design and maintenance to compliance, business process optimization, traceability improvement, and project management.
A modern Digital Thread enables continuous traceability in product development - from requirements through design and manufacturing to service. Among the key functions of the Digital Thread are ensuring consistency, timeliness, and reliability of data throughout the entire product lifecycle.
Our solutions are specifically developed for companies in:
E.g. software-defined vehicles, traceability, safe and simple type approval, ADAS systems
CE marking, functional safety, environmental and material compliance, configuration management
Compliance, quality, and traceability
For manufacturers in these industries, the Digital Thread is particularly valuable, as it supports simulation, quality assurance, and troubleshooting throughout the entire product lifecycle.
Digital Thread Solutions for transparency, traceability, and collaboration across the entire product development process at Schaeffler
Learn how the Digital Engineering Workplace established Digital Threads along the product development cycle.
Our Digital Thread Solutions are more than just a PLM add-on—they form the foundation for synchronized digital twin environments. By integrating engineering data and operational data streams, they deliver actionable insights that drive smarter decision-making.
They connect PLM, ALM, ERP, MES, and QMS into an end-to-end data model, creating transparency across the entire product lifecycle.
Development Engineers
Quality Managers
Project Managers
Procurement
Sales & Service
Management
Our clients
When introducing the Digital Thread, companies often face various challenges, including organizational resistance, integration of complex systems, and budget allocation. These challenges must be identified and addressed early to successfully implement the Digital Thread. As your experienced partner, we support you along the way.
Result: Full transparency, accelerated development cycles, and audit-proof processes.
Take the Next Step
With Digital Thread, you establish a future-proof Product Lifecycle Management strategy and ensure end-to-end traceability in your product development - for maximum quality, speed, and security.
Digital Thread Solutions from TT PSC - Your bridge between IT, engineering, and production.
By integrating PLM, ALM, ERP, and other enterprise systems, silos are eliminated and information flows become transparent, as data from different departments and company areas are linked. This ensures the efficient provision of product data for various stakeholders throughout the entire product lifecycle, while the Digital Thread promotes connection and collaboration across departments.
Learn how the digital thread integrates data
across silos, enabling AI-driven insights and aligning with today's ecological demands.
DownloadThe development of the Digital Thread is advancing rapidly, offering companies ever new opportunities to optimize their processes and business models as part of digital transformation. A central trend is the increasing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to intelligently analyze data flows in the Digital Thread and automatically support informed decisions. This allows complex relationships to be identified faster and innovative solutions to be implemented more efficiently.
Another important aspect is the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, which enable real-time data from production and operations to be fed directly into the Digital Thread. This creates a continuous, up-to-date picture of all relevant information throughout the entire product lifecycle. Cloud-based solutions also provide the flexibility to store, manage, and share large amounts of data securely and across locations.
These technological developments make the Digital Thread an indispensable tool for companies that want to make their processes future-proof and strengthen their innovative capabilities. The continuous evolution of the Digital Thread opens up new ways to increase efficiency, ensure quality, and develop new business models - securing long-term competitiveness in a digitalized industry.
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