Comparatively speaking, the century following the Industrial Revolution saw the process to develop and manufacture products remain relatively unchanged, with long stretches between incremental advancements. Without the tools to obtain, interpret and apply meaningful feedback, product development was largely guided by observations, trial-and-error, and experience. Consequently, progress was severely limited.  

This all began to change with the introduction of digital applications in the latter half of the 20th Century. Throughout the decades that followed, increasingly maturing software systems would allow organizations to capture and leverage previously untapped data embedded in products. Software was becoming the catalyst to ignite innovation, drive quality, enhance equipment effectiveness, provide insight and inspire next-generation products.

Today sophisticated applications continue to advance rapidly to keep pace with complex and evolving products and processes. The examples below show how software and systems translate raw metrics into insights and actions throughout the product lifecycle. 

Read the entire Machine Design Magazine article here.