Unlocking the power of MBSE–PLM integration for aerospace industry
In today’s aerospace and defense landscape, where precision, compliance and speed are non-negotiable, organizations are embracing Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to manage complexity. However, the gap between system models and PLM-managed product data often hinders traceability, slows delivery and weakens governance.
Our client, a US-based aerospace and defense leader, engaged HCLTech to accelerate MBSE adoption while establishing a governed, enterprise digital thread. The client’s engineering teams use Dassault Systèmes Cameo Systems Modeler for MBSE and sought to standardize Siemens Teamcenter as the PLM backbone for CAD and downstream engineering, without compromising mandated requirements-to-verification traceability.
We partnered to architect a future-ready integration using our HCLTech Cameo Connector for Teamcenter, unifying architecture, design and verification in a single, PLM-managed flow. Anchored on Teamcenter, the solution connects MBSE assets with lifecycle data to enable full-lifecycle traceability, cross-domain collaboration and engineering agility under stringent regulatory governance.
The challenge
Overcoming fragmented workflows to achieve end-to-end traceability
Our client was using Dassault Systèmes Cameo Systems Modeler to drive MBSE practices across distributed engineering teams, modeling complex systems for critical aerospace and defense programs. However, the organization was looking for a scalable, governed approach to connect these system models with CAD artifacts and downstream engineering processes managed in PLM. Manual data handling, disconnected tools and limited bidirectional traceability introduced compliance risks, slowed engineering cycles and reduced confidence in change validation. As the client evaluated Siemens Teamcenter as its enterprise PLM backbone, it became imperative to maintain end-to-end traceability — from requirements and architecture to physical design, change impact and test verification — without disrupting existing MBSE workflows.
A further challenge was to ensure performance and usability at scale, enabling seamless exchange of large datasets across MBSE and PLM environments, while preserving the integrity and intent of systems models throughout the product lifecycle.
The Objective
Demonstrating Teamcenter’s capability to drive compliance and agility
Our objective was to conduct a focused evaluation to demonstrate how Siemens Teamcenter could efficiently manage CAD data, change control and reporting while seamlessly integrating with Dassault Systèmes Cameo Systems Modeler. Our team set out to establish a governed digital thread enabling bi-directional exchange of key attributes between MBSE models and the PLM system to ensure full traceability from requirements through verification. By aligning performance, usability and user acceptance with the client’s regulatory and traceability obligations, the initiative aimed to enhance compliance, improve engineering agility and build confidence in meeting stringent industry mandates with speed and precision.
Our solution
A unified digital thread to power model-driven, PLM-governed engineering
To help the client bridge the critical gap between Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), we implemented our proprietary Cameo Connector for Teamcenter — a robust integration framework purpose-built to enable end-to-end traceability, consistent data flow and governed collaboration across the engineering lifecycle. This solution was designed to align with our client’s existing MBSE methodologies while establishing Teamcenter as the enterprise system of record, ensuring architectural context is retained from early-stage requirements through downstream design, change management and validation.
Key components included:
- Model management in Teamcenter Enabled seamless management of Cameo MBSE models, including file-based .mdzip and Teamwork Cloud models, within Teamcenter's standard lifecycle processes. Exposed key diagrams and architecture elements to non-modeling stakeholders directly through PLM, improving cross-functional accessibility and visibility.
- Bi-directional synchronization Delivered consistent and authoritative traceability by enabling bidirectional attribute exchange between system elements in Cameo and their corresponding objects in Teamcenter. Ensured alignment of requirements, architecture and design artifacts throughout product evolution.
- Element-level traceability Maintained granular, traceable relationships from system-level requirements to design and verification elements, supporting change impact analysis, stakeholder reviews and compliance reporting under stringent aerospace and defense regulations.
- Integrated digital thread Unified MBSE context with CAD and other engineering domains managed in Teamcenter, ensuring that changes propagated with full context and accountability across the product lifecycle.
- High-performance data exchange Demonstrated the ability to handle large model and data exchanges efficiently during the proof-of-concept phase, delivering high system performance and positive user adoption at scale.
This integrated approach empowered the client to modernize their engineering ecosystem with a governed, scalable digital thread that preserved modeling context, improved traceability and accelerated collaboration, all while aligning with enterprise compliance and performance benchmarks.
The impact
Transforming MBSE-PLM synergy to deliver measurable value across the product development lifecycle
The integrated Cameo Connector for Teamcenter delivered measurable value across engineering, compliance and operational performance. By unifying MBSE and PLM into a single, governed digital thread, the client achieved a step-change in traceability, productivity and scalability.
Key outcomes that we delivered:
- Regulatory-mandated traceability Achieved full end-to-end traceability from requirements and architecture through design and verification, satisfying stringent compliance expectations with confidence.
- Enhanced productivity and collaboration Streamlined change management, reviews and reporting inside Teamcenter by making MBSE artifacts accessible to cross-functional stakeholders.
- High-performance data exchange Improved throughput and responsiveness when synchronizing large MBSE datasets with Teamcenter, validating production feasibility at scale.
- Enterprise-wide digital thread Embedded MBSE models within a PLM-governed framework, ensuring downstream domains are informed by authoritative system data to support clear decision-making.
The successful proof of concept concluded with strong user satisfaction, positive stakeholder feedback and internal alignment for a full-scale rollout, reinforcing HCLTech’s role as a trusted partner in the client’s digital engineering transformation.
Looking Ahead
Partnering for the next era of model-driven engineering excellence
This engagement showcases HCLTech’s leadership in enabling intelligent, traceable and governed product development ecosystems. As aerospace and defense organizations continue to adopt MBSE and next-gen PLM systems, the Cameo Connector for Teamcenter positions HCLTech as a trusted transformation partner, ready to drive engineering excellence, compliance and digital continuity at scale.
We remain committed to helping clients realize the full value of integrated digital threads, turning complexity into clarity and enabling the future of connected product innovation.
