Chicago, IL - April 2025 - The MBE (Model-Based Enterprise) & QIF (Quality Information Framework) Summit 2025 brought together industry leaders, engineers, and innovators, all united by a common goal: to unlock the full potential of digital engineering for manufacturing innovation. Here’s a look back at the event, highlighting the key insights, discussions, and moments that will shape the future of MBE and QIF.
At the heart of the summit was the theme of collaboration—engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams must work in sync to drive true digital transformation. Presenters highlighted how the seamless flow of data and expertise between these critical functions is not just a nice-to-have, but a necessity for innovation. With the right data tools and processes, these teams can create products faster, more efficiently, and with higher quality. It’s clear that the future of manufacturing depends on a collaborative approach that bridges the gap.
One of the summit's most engaging discussions revolved around the evolving role of Product Definition Datasets (PDD) and Technical Data Packages (TDP). While both are used to define product data, it’s clear that the industry is leaning toward model-centric solutions, with MBE driving this shift. The debate continues, but it’s apparent that model-based approaches will become the dominant method for structuring and sharing product data. Team Anark will be diving deeper into this topic in an upcoming blog, so stay tuned!
Throughout the event, it became evident that the Integrated Digital Environment (IDE), or Integrated Design Environment, is a cornerstone for manufacturers looking to fully leverage their MBE initiatives. The IDE integrates data across different systems and teams, enabling streamlined workflows and faster decision-making. Lockheed Martin’s MBE Playbook for Suppliers is a great example and valuable resource for manufacturers aiming to get the most out of MBE, providing a roadmap for successful implementation. The guide shows how Anark software, among others, delivers a collaborative digital engineering environmental to accelerate innovation.
You can’t talk about MBE without discussing Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). The two are inseparable in today’s digital engineering landscape. MBSE is the framework that enables the creation and management of complex systems in a model-based environment, and when combined with MBE, it accelerates the product development lifecycle. This relationship was highlighted throughout the summit, demonstrating how MBSE is a vital enabler of MBE’s success. The best way to incorporate MBSE into an overall MBE strategy is through solutions like the Digital Data Package (DDP). While MBD 3D CAD is a cornerstone of model-based value, manufacturers are looking well beyond this to deliver a complete product definition.
Another highlight was the focus on the Department of Defense’s (DoD) 5000.97 Directive on Digital Engineering. Christopher Garrett’s keynote on the Digital Acceleration Consortium (DAC) discussed the huge opportunities that lie ahead for government and industry collaboration to push digital engineering forward. The connection between the DoD’s guidelines and MBE maturity models, as discussed by Belcan, offers valuable insights into how the defense sector is embracing digital transformation—and how manufacturers can align with these efforts.
Attendees also had the chance to experience the future of manufacturing firsthand with a tour of the MxD factory floor. This tour provided a real-world look at how cutting-edge technologies, such as automation and data integration, are revolutionizing production. Seeing these advancements in action was a powerful reminder of how digital transformation is already shaping the factory of the future.
The MBE & QIF Summit 2025 brought together an array of experts that are driving digital thread strategies that power manufacturing innovation. From the ongoing debate about Product Definition Datasets vs. Technical Data Packages to the deeper dive into IDEs, MBSE, and DoD 5000.97, the event demonstrated just how much progress has been made—and how much more is still to come. As MBE strategies continue to evolve and gain traction across industries, it’s clear that the future of manufacturing is digital, collaborative, and model-driven.
Stay tuned for more insights from the summit and be part of the ongoing conversation about how digital engineering is shaping the future of manufacturing.