ANN ARBOR, MI, USA, Mar 30, 2026 – The CIMdata-administered Aerospace & Defense PLM Action Group (AD PAG) is sharing a catalog of 80 use cases for digital twin-digital thread (DTW-DTH). This document marks the culmination of an intensive benchmarking project designed to bridge the gap between theoretical potential and industry reality.
Recognizing the need for clarity in a complex digital landscape, an AD PAG-sponsored project team undertook the challenge of advancing the industry’s understanding of current DTW-DTH capabilities. By benchmarking use cases using commercially available software and services, the team has provided a roadmap for organizations looking to scale their digital maturity. They are now releasing the use cases assembled to support the benchmark.
A Collaborative Benchmarking Effort
The project was powered by a high level of cross-industry collaboration, featuring domain experts from major constituents in the PLM community:
- Industry Experts: Specialists from AD PAG member companies.
- Strategic Partners: Four leading industry organizations.
- Solution Providers: Seven top-tier providers who executed the benchmarks.
To ensure the results were grounded in real-world applications, the team followed a structured, collaborative approach to select and refine scenarios. This rigorous process resulted in the demonstration of 28 distinct use cases from an assembled catalogue of 80 use cases spanning multiple domains across all stages of the product lifecycle.
A Definitive Reference Resource
The newly released document serves as a comprehensive archive of the benchmark project’s use case inventory. It captures:
- The initial set of use cases, drafted by the AD PAG DTW-DTH project team.
- Contributed use cases from the partnering organizations’ internal libraries.
- Refined use cases demonstrated by participating solution providers.
“This document is a reference resource that captures all use cases created and assembled in the course of the benchmark project,” stated James Roche, Vice President, Aerospace & Defense Practice Director at CIMdata, who managed the benchmark execution. “It provides the industry with a clear and consistent view of the current practical value potential of digital twin-digital thread investment as envisioned by leading practitioners in the field.”
The partnering industry organizations were AIAA, OMG, prostep ivip, and SAE International. The participating solution providers were Ansys (part of Synopsys), Capgemini, Cortona3D, eQ Technologic, Hexagon, Infosys, and Prostep AG.
Those interested in learning more may download the Use Case Catalog and the Benchmark Report of Findings for free at https://www.cimdata.com/en/aerospace-and-defense/publications/digitaltwin-digitalthread.
About Aerospace & Defense PLM Action Group
Since its founding in 2014, the AD PAG, administered by CIMdata, has sponsored research and jointly staffed projects on a diverse set of prioritized PLM-related industry and technology topics. These topics include Model-Based Definition, Multiple-View Bill of Materials, PLM Technology Obsolescence Management, Global Collaboration, Model-Based Systems Engineering, and Digital Twin/Digital Thread. As an outcome of these investments, the AD PAG has released a series of direction statements and position papers that are freely available for downloading from its website at http://www.ad-pag.com/. Making these materials available is consistent with the Group’s mission to engage proactively within the PLM ecosystem and advocate for common direction and positions within the aerospace and defense industry on PLM-related topics of importance to the members.
For more information about the A&D PLM Action Group, please contact CIMdata at info@cimdata.com.
About CIMdata
CIMdata, an independent worldwide firm, provides strategic management consulting to maximize an enterprise’s ability to design, deliver, and support innovative products and services by identifying and implementing appropriate digital initiatives. For forty years, CIMdata has provided industrial organizations and providers of technologies and services with world-class knowledge, expertise, and best-practice methods on a broad set of product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions and the digital transformation they enable. CIMdata also offers research, subscription services, publications, and education through certificate programs and international conferences. To learn more, visit www.CIMdata.com or email info@CIMdata.com.
