End-to-End Instance-Level Torque Management Across the Automotive Manufacturing Lifecycle

Abstract

Torque accuracy is critical to ensuring safety, reliability, and structural integrity in automotive assemblies, particularly for high-reliability systems such as engines, chassis, and suspension components. Traditional part-based torque definitions are insufficient for modern vehicle architectures where identical fasteners are reused across multiple locations with differing functional and reliability requirements. This paper presents an instance-based torque definition model implemented within a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environment, enabling precise torque specification, traceability, and execution across the engineering and manufacturing lifecycle. Using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and DELMIA digital manufacturing solutions, the proposed approach demonstrates how torque data authored at the Engineering Bill of Materials (EBOM) instance level can be propagated through Manufacturing BOM (MBOM), Bill of Process (BOP), and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). The model enhances process control, improves auditability, and supports high-reliability automotive manufacturing.