Connected products can collect and exchange information through sensors, software, and communication technologies. Digital engineering also enables teams to evaluate designs virtually before physical development. Together, these practices create more integrated development processes, improve visibility into product information, and support informed technical decisions across different stages of product development and lifecycle management.
Digital engineering is an approach that uses digital models, simulations, data, and software to support engineering activities throughout the product lifecycle. Connected product development extends this approach by incorporating sensors, software, communication technologies, and data capabilities into physical products. Together, they create a development environment where product information can be shared across design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, and maintenance activities.
Digital engineering creates digital representations of products, systems, and processes. Engineers can use these representations to study product behavior, evaluate designs, and identify potential issues before building physical versions. Connected products add another layer by allowing physical products to communicate with digital systems and provide information about their operation.
Key elements include:
These technologies can be applied across industries where products contain mechanical, electrical, electronic, and software components. The combination of these disciplines can help create a more connected development process.
Connected manufacturing uses digital technologies to link products, equipment, engineering systems, and production processes. Digital engineering can provide the foundation for this transformation by creating consistent digital information that moves from product design into manufacturing and later lifecycle stages.
Important areas of connected product development include:
Connected manufacturing can therefore create a continuous flow of information between engineering and production environments. This supports better understanding of how products are designed, manufactured, and used. Digital engineering also provides a structured way to manage complex product information as products increasingly combine hardware, electronics, software, and connectivity.
As connected products become more sophisticated, digital engineering and connected product development are becoming important parts of modern engineering practices. Their use can support collaboration, virtual testing, data integration, and lifecycle visibility while helping organizations manage increasingly complex product development processes.