Product Manufacturing Information (PMI)

Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) commonly refers to the structured set of annotations and data attached to a digital product definition (often a 3D CAD model) that specify how a part or assembly must be manufactured, inspected, and verified.

PMI typically includes information such as dimensions and tolerances, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), surface finish, material specifications, welding symbols, notes, and other manufacturing and inspection requirements. Instead of existing only on 2D drawings, PMI is embedded directly into the model or associated files so that downstream systems can consume it.

Where PMI is used in industrial and regulated environments

In manufacturing operations, PMI is used to transfer design intent into production and quality workflows. Common uses include:

• Driving CAM programming and CNC toolpath generation from a model with tolerances and features defined
• Feeding MES, PLM, and QMS systems with critical characteristics and inspection requirements
• Supporting model-based definition (MBD) and model-based enterprise (MBE) practices, where the 3D model plus PMI act as the authoritative product definition
• Populating digital inspection plans and first article inspection (FAI) characteristics
• Providing the basis for ballooned characteristics, measurement plans, and data collection in regulated sectors such as aerospace and medical devices

Operationally, PMI may be consumed by:

• CAD and PLM systems that author and manage the product definition
• MES and digital traveler systems that translate PMI into work instructions, operation steps, and inspection points
• Metrology and inspection software that uses PMI to automatically generate CMM, vision, or other measurement programs

What PMI includes and excludes

PMI generally includes:

• Dimensional data and tolerances (including GD&T)
• Surface finish and coating requirements that affect manufacturing and inspection
• Material specifications as referenced on the model or product definition
• Feature control frames, datum definitions, and related notes
• Annotation of critical, key, or safety-related characteristics when defined at the design level

PMI typically does not include:

• Detailed routing, sequencing, or resource assignments used by MES or ERP (these are usually derived from PMI plus process planning)
• Commercial data such as pricing, supplier contracts, or customer order information
• Plant-specific work instructions that go beyond design intent (these may reference or be configured from PMI, but are separate artifacts)

PMI and digital thread integration

In integrated environments, PMI is a key element of the digital thread. By embedding manufacturing and inspection requirements in the product definition, PMI can be exchanged between CAD, PLM, MES, CAM, and metrology systems without reinterpreting or manually re-entering design intent.

Examples of digital integrations using PMI include:

• Automatically generating operation characteristics in MES from CAD/PLM so that inspection plans remain aligned with the latest revision
• Using PMI to define which dimensions must be reported for first article inspection or batch release
• Driving automated ballooning and characteristic numbering in inspection planning tools

Common confusion

PMI vs. 2D drawings: Traditional 2D drawings can contain the same types of requirements, but PMI usually refers to the data embedded in or associated with a digital 3D model. A model-based definition can replace or supplement 2D drawings by using PMI as the authoritative source.

PMI vs. work instructions: PMI expresses design-level requirements (what must be achieved and controlled), while work instructions describe how operators should perform the work. Work instructions may reference or derive from PMI but are not the same thing.

PMI vs. MES master data: PMI is product definition data; MES master data covers routings, operations, resources, and control logic. MES may consume PMI to create or update operation characteristics and inspection steps.