Virtual Master Model (VMM) - Large Assembly Automation
Build Complex To-Order Products Without Overloaded Assemblies
SIGMAXIM's Virtual Master Model (VMM) enables manufacturers to efficiently create complex Configure-to-Order (CTO) and Engineer-to-Order (ETO) products in Creo without the performance, maintenance, and scalability challenges associated with traditional master model assemblies.
By managing configuration logic, relationships, and assembly information externally, VMM creates clean, lightweight product structures that contain only the components required for each configuration. The result is faster performance, simplified maintenance, reduced PLM complexity, and virtually unlimited scalability.
The Challenge: Managing Complex Product Variants
Many organizations rely on large master model assemblies to manage multiple product variants. While this approach can work, it often creates significant challenges as products become more complex and product families continue to grow.
Common issues include:
- Long load and regeneration times
- PLM conflicts between master models and variants
- Complex and time-consuming maintenance
- Generic part naming conventions
- Large assemblies containing mostly unused components
- Difficulty creating new product configurations
- Increased engineering effort and reduced productivity
As a result, engineers spend valuable time managing model complexity rather than developing new products and improving existing designs.
The VMM Solution
Virtual Master Model takes a fundamentally different approach.
Instead of starting with a large overloaded assembly and suppressing unwanted components, VMM builds each configured product from the ground up. Product relationships, logic, rules, and configuration information are managed externally, allowing only the required components to be assembled into the final Creo model.
The result is a clean assembly that contains only the components needed for the selected configuration, eliminating unnecessary complexity while maintaining complete design integrity.
Powerful and Scalable
VMM leverages your existing master model configurations, preserving years of engineering effort and product knowledge while removing the limitations of traditional master assemblies.
Because assembly information is stored externally until needed, Virtual Master Model provides virtually unlimited scalability and can support highly engineered products with extensive configuration options. It is equally effective for Configure-to-Order and Engineer-to-Order environments where new variants must be created regularly.
Flexible Configuration
A fully customizable user interface allows users to define product configurations using names, families, requirements, business logic, or engineering rules.
This flexibility enables organizations to create new product variants—even previously unknown combinations—while ensuring every configured assembly follows established design standards and best practices. Users receive a clean Creo assembly that includes only the components required for the selected configuration.
Lightweight and Efficient
Traditional master model assemblies often become increasingly difficult to manage as they grow. Virtual Master Model dramatically reduces assembly size and complexity by creating models that contain only the components required for a specific product configuration.
Benefits include:
- Faster assembly load times
- Improved regeneration performance
- Reduced PLM data complexity
- Easier maintenance and updates
- Cleaner product structures
- Less computing overhead
The result is a more efficient engineering environment and a better user experience throughout the product lifecycle.
Seamless Integration
Virtual Master Model integrates directly with Creo and Windchill/PDMLink while supporting connections to databases, ERP systems, and other enterprise platforms.
Components remain managed within existing systems and are retrieved only when required. VMM can also automatically generate downstream deliverables, including:
- 3D CAD models
- Engineering drawings
- Bills of Materials (BOMs)
- Manufacturing documentation
This ensures a smooth flow of information throughout the organization while maintaining data accuracy and consistency.
Key Benefits
- Eliminate overloaded assemblies
- Build products from the ground up
- Create complex CTO and ETO configurations
- Generate previously unknown product variants
- Reduce PLM complexity
- Improve model performance
- Preserve engineering knowledge and best practices
- Simplify maintenance
- Scale without traditional assembly limitations
- Automatically create downstream deliverables
Ready to Transform Your Product Configuration Process?
Experience the power of SIGMAXIM's Virtual Master Model—a game changer for Creo users managing complex Configure-to-Order and Engineer-to-Order products.
By eliminating overloaded assemblies and building product variants from the ground up, VMM helps engineering teams streamline product configuration, reduce maintenance, improve performance, and simplify product data management.
Whether you're struggling with assembly complexity, PLM challenges, or scalability limitations, Virtual Master Model provides a flexible and maintainable foundation for the future of your product design process.
Contact SIGMAXIM today to learn how Virtual Master Model can help you build smarter, configure faster, and scale without limits.