The paper-drawing problem
Printed drawings on the shop floor go out of date the moment engineering releases a change. Operators building from an old revision cause scrap, rework and delays. CAD–MES integration replaces paper with the current digital data.
What flows between CAD and MES
| Engineering → MES | MES → Engineering |
|---|---|
| Released drawings and 3D viewables | Non-conformance reports |
| Work instructions with images from CAD | Measured quality data |
| NC programs and setup sheets | Actual cycle and assembly times |
| Inspection characteristics (dimensions, tolerances) | Improvement suggestions from operators |
Digital work instructions from CAD
Assembly sequences, exploded views and annotated images can be generated automatically from the CAD model. When the design changes, instructions are regenerated, so the shop floor never works from outdated steps.
Quality characteristics
Critical dimensions and tolerances (from PMI or drawings) can be extracted and sent to MES or quality systems as an inspection plan. Measured results are then compared to the design automatically.
How the integration works
Release in PDM/PLM
→ generate PDF, 3D viewer file, work instruction images
→ extract inspection characteristics
→ push to MES via API (linked to part number + revision)
→ MES displays at workstation for matching work orders
→ MES reports quality results backBenefits
- Operators always use the correct revision.
- Faster introduction of new products.
- Less scrap and rework.
- Closed-loop quality between engineering and production.
Smart manufacturing starts with making engineering data available where products are built.
CAD–MES integration with ENGIMANDI
We connect CAD and PDM systems with MES and shop-floor applications, and build custom web-based viewers for workstations. See our CAD integration services and web application development.