This thesis work has been performed at GKN Aerospace Sweden AB.

The objective was to initiate GKN Aerospace Engine System (GAES) work towards Model Based Engineering (MBE); letting the 3D models including Product and Manufacturing Information (PMI) replace the 2D drawings as the authoritative information source.

To obtain the objective a pilot-study was performed. The pilot-study implied taking a 3D model including PMI through the downstream information flow at the company, to identify opportunities and challenges with this way of working.

Requirements and aspects were identified to describe what need to be tested and answered during the pilot-study. Concurrent with the pilot-study the ranked list of requirements was followed-up and the identified aspects were answered. Out of 19 requirements the result showed that nine requirements are fully met with the current work approach, seven requirements are partly met and three requirements are not met. Since a major part of the requirements is fully met it will simplify GAES step in the direction towards MBE.

The study showed that introducing MBE can imply both opportunities and challenges for GAES. One opportunity is that MBE can minimize errors when less human interpretation is needed. A challenge is that GAES way of working differs from other companies, which requires a new way of thinking and different functionality in software. There is today no solution for tracking changes in the 3D model including PMI, which needs to be solved before a transition.

The employees believe that introducing MBE will lead to a big readjustment and that the cultural change at the company will be the biggest and most difficult challenge to overcome.

Since the approach to work with MBE is still not as widespread within the aerospace industry, there are several aspects that need to be explored and studied further.