PMI

In industrial and manufacturing contexts, PMI most commonly refers to Product and Manufacturing Information embedded in a 3D CAD model. It captures the information needed to manufacture and inspect a part directly within the model instead of on a separate 2D drawing.

What PMI includes

PMI typically covers the information required to define, produce and verify a part, such as:

• Geometric dimensions and tolerances (GD&T)
• Datum features and feature control frames
• Surface finish and surface texture requirements
• Material specifications and treatments (e.g., heat treat, coating notes)
• Assembly instructions and fit requirements
• Weld symbols and other fabrication symbols
• Inspection requirements and key characteristics
• Process notes relevant to manufacturing and quality

In a model-based definition (MBD) workflow, this information is attached directly to 3D geometry, allowing downstream systems to interpret and extract characteristics digitally.

Operational role in manufacturing systems

In regulated and high-precision manufacturing, PMI is used to:

• Drive automatic or semi-automatic extraction of characteristics for inspection planning, including first article inspection (FAI) per standards such as AS9102
• Link PLM models to MES, QMS and ERP so that specifications, tolerances and inspection points remain consistent across systems
• Support digital work instructions and visualizations that reference the 3D model rather than static 2D drawings
• Enable CMM programming, CAM toolpath generation and other automated or assisted NC programming directly from the annotated 3D model
• Provide traceable, version-controlled product definition as part of a digital thread

PMI content quality, structure and adherence to internal standards strongly affect whether downstream tools can consume the data reliably. Poorly structured or incomplete PMI often leads to manual rework, misinterpretation or mixed use of 2D drawings and 3D models.

Common confusion

• Product and Manufacturing Information vs. Project Management Institute: Outside of CAD and manufacturing, PMI may refer to the Project Management Institute, a professional association. In engineering, CAD, PLM and MES discussions, PMI almost always means Product and Manufacturing Information.
• PMI vs. MBD: Model-based definition (MBD) is an approach where the 3D model is the authoritative product definition. PMI is a key enabler of MBD, but MBD also includes practices, standards, workflows and system integrations beyond the annotations themselves.
• PMI vs. 2D drawing annotations: Traditional drawing notes and symbols serve a similar purpose, but PMI is natively associated with 3D geometry and intended for digital consumption by downstream systems.

Relation to FAI and aerospace workflows

In aerospace and other regulated industries, PMI is increasingly used to support digital FAI processes. Instead of manually ballooning 2D drawings and typing characteristics into FAI forms, software can read PMI from the 3D model, identify characteristics, and map them to inspection results and quality records. This can improve traceability and alignment between PLM, MES and QMS, while still operating within existing standards such as AS9102.