A vision of the future production methods and systems is given in this paper. The basic idea is a model based perspective to future product realisation. The basic aspects of modelling, such as the objects of models (structures, functions, manufacturing systems, etc.), the reasons of modelling (to design, to learn, to explain, etc.) and the types of models (mathematical, physical, logical, etc.) are discussed together with model definitions. Product and production models are analysed taking into account human and computer based information processing and intelligence. Finally distributed artificial intelligence, object oriented distributed systems, virtual reality and virtual manufacturing are detailed as means and tools of future model based production.