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Mastering complexity leveraging digital threads for electronics systems design and manufacturing

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An illustration depicting digital threads
The rapid advancement of technology and its integration into various industries, particularly the electronics sector, has led to a significant increase in complexity. Digital threads offer a seamless framework for data flow throughout a product’s lifecycle, from ideation to utilization, fostering collaboration and informed decision-making. They intersect various domains, ensuring information consistency and accessibility. This paper examines the concept of digital threads as a means of managing this complexity in electronic systems design and manufacturing, highlighting five integral threads: architecture, component, design data, verification, and manufacturing. Adopting digital threads becomes imperative for those seeking to navigate and thrive amidst the intricate landscape of electronic systems design and manufacturing.

Five critical digital threads

A digital thread is the communications framework that allows a connected data flow and an integrated view of product data throughout the product lifecycle – spanning ideation, realization, and utilization. This paper will dive deeper into five critical digital threads:

  1. Architecture digital thread: This thread focuses on the early architecture of a system, bridging the gap between high-level requirements and detailed design. Enabling this thread facilitates effective power budget allocation, traceability, and iterative refinement.

  2. Component digital thread: Addressing the broken component data exchange paradigm is vital. Standardized digital models of components through initiatives like JEDEC’s JEP30 standard is key to enhancing efficiency and reducing errors.

  3. Design data digital thread: This thread represents a sophisticated framework aiming to seamlessly synchronize varied design data elements within a digital landscape. For example, coordinating ECAD (Electronic Computer-Aided Design) and MCAD (Mechanical Computer-Aided Design) design data to enable seamless collaboration and multi-domain simulations. This thread necessitates optimized data exchange formats, such as the IDX standard, to optimize design processes.

  4. Verification digital thread: Complexity drives the need for thorough verification. Establishing a digital thread that traces requirements, test cases, and verification results fosters efficiency, enhances traceability, and facilitates continuous verification throughout the development cycle.

  5. Manufacturing digital thread: The interaction between design and manufacturing is bidirec- tional. A robust manufacturing digital thread allows for continuous improvement by capturing manufacturing insights and enabling more informed, sustainable design decisions.

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