What is a digital thread?

A digital thread is the communication framework that allows for a connected data flow and integrated view of the product’s and asset’s data throughout its lifecycle, connecting the many digital twins. Data should be reusable and flow both downstream and upstream through feedback loops. Considering the data applications outside of the data-generating domain, all the data in a digital thread must be clear, concise and validated.

Traditionally, a digital thread span's across siloed functional perspectives, but for value networks, which include suppliers, partners and customers, it needs to also extend outside of an organization’s border.

Eurostep sees a digital thread as a coherent set of integrated product information that is enriched by integrating data from a disparate set of domains and disciplines across the value network of suppliers, partners, and customers throughout the life cycle of a product. For a digital thread to be resilient it must be designed with links and relationships that can be managed and changed over time. A digital thread based on these principles enables agile product development with, continuous feedback loops at all stages of the product lifecycle.

Why a digital thread?

Companies increasingly seek to achieve complete digital transformations as businesses are shifting towards growing global networks involving partners, suppliers, joint ventures, and customers. Network-centric organisations leverage global access to markets, access to skills, time to market and time to volume production.

With increased data availability, digital threads are needed to connect and provide integrated views of information for improved quality and agility in decision-making. They break down data silos and ensure full traceability and full transparency of business-critical information across global value chains.

How to implement a digital thread using PLCS?

Product Life Cycle Support (PLCS) is an ISO standard developed for the maintenance and through-life support of complex products using a state-of-the-art open and rich data model. Led by Eurostep, the data model of the PLCS standard was designed to enable a digital thread and digital twin even before these concepts became well established. Implementing PLCS doesn't only provide an immediate digital thread capability but also adds new functionality to already existing software and processes.