Leading technology companies that are developing complex products in the automotive, aerospace, mechanical engineering and consumer goods industry strongly depend on 3D and 2D CAD data to design, develop and manufacture their highly complex products in a very competitive environment. For much of the industrial era, engineering communication revolved around 2D technical drawings - precise orthographic views accompanied by annotations, tolerances, and material specifications especially for the production of these parts. Today, advances in Model-Based Definition (MBD) are reshaping that paradigm.

In MBD, the 3D CAD model itself becomes the authoritative, leading source for all product definition, embedding dimensions, tolerances, and notes directly within the model as Product Manufacturing Information (PMI).

This approach is increasingly central to initiatives of the industry like the 3D Master concept, which aims to eliminate the need for separate 2D drawings entirely. Therefore, a new type of 3D entities and functionalities has been introduced in many CAD Systems and also Standard ISO Formats such as STEP AP 242.

The Role of PMI in MBD

PMI is the bridge between geometric design and manufacturing requirements. A fully annotated 3D model can contain:

• Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
• Material and finish specifications
• Assembly instructions
• Cross-sectional views and detail callouts

Modern CAD systems allow PMI to be displayed through views—preset orientations, cross-sections, and detail frames—helping users navigate complex models in the same way they would with 2D detail drawings.

Advance in Viewing and Sharing 3D PMI

One of the most significant developments in MBD adoption is the ability to share annotated 3D models outside of native CAD environments.

• Neutral formats like STEP AP242 can carry both geometry and PMI with predefined views.
• 3D PDF technology allows users to open fully annotated 3D models in a free PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat or the 3D_Analyzer without specialized CAD software.
• Views embedded in the model can guide users to specific annotations and cross-sections, maintaining clarity even for highly complex assemblies.

In CAD Systems today PMI and the associated views are replacing the 2D Drawings but this information can be very extensive, so a new functionality has been introduced to handle this. The model can be rotated into predefined orientations, and the associated annotations are displayed just as they appear in the original CAD system. This capability supports broad accessibility, enabling manufacturing, quality, and supply chain partners to work from the same digital definition without format barriers.

Why MBD matters for Quality

Today the existence of 2D and 3D CADS models which in practice do not always contain consistent information about the same geometry or offer different revisions are a major issue for the industry.

From a quality perspective, MBD with PMI delivers three important benefits:

1. Reduction of interpretation errors — All stakeholders reference the same model, minimizing miscommunication between design and production.
2. Improved inspection workflows — Coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and inspection software can read PMI directly, enabling faster and more accurate inspection program generation.
3. Digital continuity — Eliminating the gap between design and quality documentation supports a seamless digital thread from concept through validation.

Challenges to Overcome

Despite its advantages, MBD adoption is not without hurdles:

• Cultural change — Many engineers and inspectors are deeply accustomed to 2D drawings.
• Training — Users must be proficient in interpreting and navigating PMI-rich 3D models. The usage of tablets for the display of the MBD models in a production environment also needs to be established for workers that are mostly used to paper drawings.
• Data interoperability — Even with neutral formats, ensuring that PMI displays consistently across different platforms requires adherence to standards.

Today, specialized CAD Conversion tools are helping to overcome the limitations of standard formats providing CAD and customer specific adaptions as well as functional enhancements over the standard capabilities.

Converting Functional PMI into 3D-PDF

To read CAD data via Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) from a CAD Model and convert it into the widely used 3D PDF format with functional 3D dimensions is another method to use MBD in a broader context and very cost efficient. The free PDF Viewer can display not only the 3D Dimensions and Tolerances, it also has a functionality to apply filters to display the so-called views that replace the 2D Drawings-Information.

To get these sophisticated 3D-PDF files, software reads major CAD data formats including PMI from CATIA V5, NX, Creo as well as JT and STEP 242 and converts the files especially for the Acrobat PDF viewer. The views stored in the CAD model with the associated 3D dimensions, sections, and comments are available to every user that has the free PDF Viewer installed. In view of the increasing replacement of 2D drawings by 3D models with PMI, the so-called 3D master project, the PMIs plays an important role in the design and manufacturing process.

After loading the 3D PDF models, the PMI results are visible and the views stored in the CAD model can be used functionally. To do this, simply select the “Settings, 3D, Open Model Structure” function in Acrobat Viewer. In the next step, the model is rotated to the stored position by clicking on the views in the list, and the 3D dimensions and component sections defined for this view are displayed. The various views are displayed in the same way as the views named in the CAD system and provide a perfect overview of complex 3D models with many dimensions. The new technology is a further step towards the implementation of the 3D Master Project and thus the replacement of 2D drawings in paper form.

The Future of MBD in Quality Management

MBD is not an endpoint but part of a broader Model-Based Enterprise (MBE) strategy, where the annotated 3D model becomes the central hub for all lifecycle data. As visualization tools, standards, and collaboration platforms improve, PMI will serve as the connective tissue linking design intent, manufacturing execution, and quality assurance in a unified digital workflow based on a uniform source of data.

The ongoing development of neutral exchange formats and widely accessible viewers is accelerating this transition—bringing the industry closer to a future where the fully annotated 3D model is the only product definition needed.

The long-term vision for MBD aligns with Model-Based Enterprise (MBE) - a fully integrated digital thread connecting design, simulation, manufacturing, and inspection through a shared model. As artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and digital twin technologies mature, annotated 3D models may become interactive hubs for real-time quality monitoring and predictive maintenance data.

In quality assurance specifically, the shift to MBD could enable closed-loop quality control: inspection results automatically updating design records and triggering corrective actions—all without manual data entry.

Conclusion

Model-Based Definition represents both a technological advance and a cultural transformation in how product information is created, shared, and consumed. For quality professionals, it offers opportunities to improve accuracy, accelerate feedback, and strengthen the digital continuity of manufacturing processes. But realizing these benefits requires more than just new CAD features—it demands standards adoption, cross-functional training, and a willingness to reimagine the role of engineering documentation in the digital age. The interoperability also needs to be secured because this is a major requirement for the industry where development partners working with different CAD Systems in an iterative process to develop complex products.