A survey on the methods and tools of concurrent new product development and agile manufacturing

Companies in either manufacturing or servicing have to be restructured or re-organized in order to overcome with challenges of the 21st century in which customers are not only satisfied but also delighted. In this competitive environment, organizations should use a flexible, adaptive and responsive paradigm that can be entitled by a unique term: agile manufacturing (AM). An AM system is able to develop a variety of product at low cost and in a short time period. For this, it has some of useful enabling technologies and physical tools. Among these, concurrent engineering (CE) is a systematic approach to the integrated, concurrent design of product and their related processes, including manufacture and support. It is then a useful and beneficial approach to reduce the development time and manufacturing cost, while simultaneously improving the quality of a product in order to better respond to the customer expectations. The aim of this study is to underline the synergistic impact of new product development (NPD) and CE, (which can be called CNPD), and to survey their methods and tools in association with the AM.     

基于中性文件机制的异构PDM系统集成方法

异构PDM系统之间产品设计信息的集成是实现企业间集成的必要条件。文中提出了一种基于中性文件机制实现异构PDM系统产品设计信息交换的模式,建立了支持该模式的共享信息模型,并给出了基于共享信息模型开发异构PDM系统信息交换接口的方法。所提出的模型和解决方案,对实现异构PDM系统中各种信息的交换具有普遍意义。     

产品研发过程管理信息集成建模方法研究*

为了实现制造企业产品研发过程多目标全局集成管理和综合优化,提出了基于活动及其实现过程(ProA)的信息集成建模方法。建模过程中详细讨论了产品研发ProA数学模型、ProA信息模型设计策略、ProA信息存储方案和ProA基础信息模型。基于MVC提出了ProA的信息系统设计结构,为ProA信息系统设计奠定了基础。     

一种面向并行工程的统一产品BOM模型*

为解决传统的串行演化过程中各种BOM之间的不一致性问题,提出一种面向并行工程的统一产品BOM模型。该模型重构组织结构,建立面向并行工程的组织体系;重构BOM过程,构建并行的BOM应用架构;分析产品生命周期所涵盖的BOM信息,提出集成化BOM信息模型,该BOM信息模型由物料项信息模型、产品结构信息模型和零件信息模型三个模型构成。实际项目应用表明,提出的面向并行工程的统一产品BOM模型是有效可行的。     

Knowledge integration and sharing for collaborative molding product design and process development

This study presents a systematic approach to developing a knowledge integration and sharing mechanism for collaborative molding product design and process development. The proposed approach includes the steps of (i) collaborative molding product design and process development process modeling, (ii) an ontology-based knowledge model establishment, (iii) knowledge integration and sharing system framework design, (iv) ontology-based knowledge integration and sharing methods development, and (v) ontology-based knowledge integration and sharing mechanism implementation. The mechanism can support collaborative molding product design and process development by providing functions of knowledge integration and sharing. Results of this study facilitate the knowledge integration and sharing of collaborative molding product design and process development to satisfy the product knowledge demands of participants, and thus increase molding product development capability, reduce molding product development cycle time and cost, and ultimately increase molding product marketability.     

面向网络化协同开发的产品数据管理环境

为了满足网络化协同开发中复杂的产品数据管理需求,设计了基于ASP和XML的产品数据管理环境,该环境主要包括三个部分：（1）企业内部的数据管理环境;（2）ASP平台中的数据管理环境;（3）异构系统数据集成环境。基于单层变式BOM建立产业链级数据源,能够保证ASP平台中数据的统一性和良好的扩展性;基于ASP的分布式数据管理能够满足各企业管理方式的差异性要求;基于XML的数据交换机制能够充分支持异构系统的数据集成。最后介绍了该产品数据管理环境在摩托车产业的应用实例。     

On the development of a haptic system for rapid product development

This paper presents a system development that extends haptic modeling to a number of key aspects in product development. Since haptic modeling has been developed based on physical laws, it is anticipated that a natural link between the virtual world and practical applications can be established based on haptic interaction. In the proposed system, a haptic device is used as the central mechanism for reverse engineering, shape modeling, real time mechanical property analysis, machining tool path planning and coordinate measuring machine (CMM) tolerance inspection path planning. With all these features in a single haptic system, it is possible to construct a three dimensional part by either haptic shape modeling or reverse engineering, then performing real-time mechanical property analysis in which the stiffness of a part can be felt and intuitively evaluated by the user, or generating collision free cutter tool path and CMM tolerance inspection path. Due to the force feed back in all of the above activities, the product development process is more intuitive, efficient and user-friendly. A prototype system has been developed to demonstrate the proposed capabilities.     

并行工程中产品信息集成研究

如何解决产品设计的信息集成问题一直是并行工程研究的一个重要课题。文章从信息集成的需求出发,定义了产品数据和产品信息模型,分析了基于STEP国际标准和特征建模技术的信息集成的方式。然后提出了一种并行工程信息集成的方式,在传统的CAD软件的基础上,参考STEP国际标准增加了产品的特征建模,通过STEP中性文件实现了并行工程中的产品信息集成。该系统在航天某型号部件XXX的设计和制造中得到了应用。     

Development of a semantic product modeling system for initial hull structure in shipbuilding

In the initial stage of ship design, designers represent geometry, arrangement, and dimension of hull structures, which correspond to product model information, with 2D geometric primitives such as points, lines, arcs, and drawing symbols on 2D drawings. However, designers must translate the product model information defined on the 2D drawings more intelligently in the following design stages. Thus, design semantics could be lost and design processes that follow could be delayed because of errors by mistranslating the information. Here, design semantics mean design intents of the designer, that is, functions and structures which the product must have.In this study, a semantic product model data structure of an initial ship hull structure was proposed, and a semantic product modeling system was developed based on the proposed data structure. The proposed data structure can store semantic product model information such as product design results with the use of 2D wire frame geometrical data, part attributes, and design knowledge. Hence, this information can be used to generate a 3D solid model and production material information for CAPP as needed.The applicability of the proposed data structure and the developed system was verified by applying them to the deadweight 300,000 ton of Very Large Crude oil Carrier’s product modeling procedure. The application results showed that the proposed data structure and the developed system can be efficiently used for overall initial ship design environment.     

Development of a framework system for tool integration in a product information archive

The described framework system has the goal of providing an integration platform for engineering tools to interact. Engineering tools exchange information via the data repository of the framework system. In the European research project ESPRIT EP6896 Concurrent/Simultaneous Engineering System (CONSENS), a Product Information Archive (PIA) is being developed based on the object-oriented database system of the framework, the Object Management System. The Product model is based on a STEP compliant schema. This has been achieved by developing an Application Resource Model (ARM) for the required product information according to a user requirements analysis. The ARM then was mapped to the Integrated Resource Models of STEP which resulted in an object-oriented STEP compliant model. The main objective of PIA is the integration of the product information flows between parallel teams using the framework for product development. This is provided by an interface consisting of a library of functions that enable tools within and external to the framework to access PIA and exchange up-to-date product information. Additionally an X Motif based interface provides human users with direct access possibilities. The framework has been tested by the integration of various tools which support product development.     

Managing Information in a Co-operative Object Database System

The paper describes a software infrastructure that was built to manage information in a co-operative environment for the design of control systems. The architecture of the environment, the organization of the design database and a suite of information management tools are presented. The paper suggests that the distributed client–server architecture and object database technology meet the requirements of managing information in the environment. The following issues related to information management are examined in more detail: support for version control, maintenance of information integrity by means of object access control and consistency control, support for user co-operation based on object sharing and change notification, graphical user interfaces, and design tool interfaces. Problems encountered during the implementation of the environment using a commercial object database management system are also discussed.     

An object-oriented bill of materials system for dynamic product management

In this paper, the bill of materials (BOM) system is defined as the central hub of a general product data management (PDM) system that provides essential data for running a manufacturing system to produce products. Information that is relevant to products and their components is defined in the BOM. The information is critically related to data from product design, manufacturing planning, production management, procurement, inventory control, and accounting within a company. A conventional BOM structure (or product configuration), which manages data only in a stand-alone relational database management style, cannot satisfy the needs requested by all departments within a company. A BOM should relate to and communicate with other domains of the information system. In this research, a newly designed BOM system uses the object-oriented programming (OOP) concept to represent product information. The object-oriented BOM (OOBOM) system can capture and encapsulate data that will simultaneously serve the information needs of various departments. In order to manage product data dynamically, the system provides several interfaces for easy data access and manipulation. The linkage between BOM and its corresponding CAD/CAM system is enabled through the X-window manager: thus an integrated PDM environment is developed. This product management approach improves the consistency and efficiency of product data representation.     

Integrated product and process design: a multi-objective modeling framework

In this paper we present an analytical multi-objective framework for the concurrent design of product and processes. The objective is to simultaneously consider the tolerance specification on the product or the component dimensions along with the selection of the manufacturing processes. For this purpose we consider three objectives: to minimize unit cost, to minimize quality loss and to minimize manufacturing lead time. We characterize the properties of the non-dominated solutions. These solutions provide flexibility needed in an agile manufacturing environment. The min–max approach is used to obtain trade-off solutions.     

An integrated product and process development methodology: Concept formulation

Life cycle engineering, or integrated product and process development (IPPD), is a new trend of research and application in industry and academia. In our previous work, a generic framework was proposed to provide a means for an integrated consideration of the performance optimization issues in a product’s lifetime. Based on this generic framework, this paper proposes and presents an integrated product and process development methodology. Important concepts of the methodology are introduced, and an application procedure is provided to illustrate the systematic application of the methodology to real product and process development. Finally, we provide a brief report of our application of the methodology to personal computer development.     

Improving the management of product lines by performing domain knowledge extraction and cross product line analysis

ContextIncrease in market competition is one of the main reasons for developing and maintaining families of systems, termed Product Lines (PLs). Managing those PLs is challenging, let alone the management of several related PLs. Currently, those PLs are managed separately or their relations are analyzed assuming explicit specification of dependencies or use of an underlying terminology. Such assumptions may not hold when developing the PLs in different departments or companies applying various engineering processes.ObjectiveIn this work we call for utilizing the knowledge gained from developing and maintaining different PLs in the same domain in order to recommend on improvements to the management of PLs.MethodThe suggested approach conducts domain knowledge extraction and cross PL analysis on feature diagrams – the main aid for modeling PL variability. The domain knowledge is extracted by applying similarity metrics, clustering, and mining techniques. Based on the created domain models, the approach performs cross PL analysis that examines relations in the domain models and generates improvement recommendations to existing PLs and overall management recommendations (e.g., merging or splitting PLs).ResultsThe approach outcomes were evaluated by humans in a domain of mobile phones. The evaluation results may provide evidence that the outcomes of the approach in general and its recommendations in particular meet human perception of the given domain.ConclusionWe conclude that through domain knowledge extraction and cross PL analysis the suggested approach may generate recommendations useful to the management of individual PLs, as well as to the overall management of different PLs in the same domain.     

基于网络的跨校图书信息系统集成实现

围绕保留原有系统及数据库结构不改动的情况下建立跨校图书信息集成系统。对系统集成的信息共享、数据传输的现存的问题提出了解决方案。     

Advanced product planning: a comprehensive process for systemic definition of new product requirements

This paper reports results of research into the definition of requirements for new consumer products––specifically, electro-mechanical products. The research dealt with the derivation of design requirements that are demonstrably aligned with stakeholder needs. The paper describes a comprehensive process that can enable product development teams to deal with statements of product requirements, as originally collected through market research activities, in a systematic and traceable manner from the early, fuzzy front end, stages of the design process. The process described has been based on principles of systems engineering. A case study from its application and evaluation drawn from the power sector is described in this paper. The case study demonstrates how the process can significantly improve product quality planning practices through revision of captured product requirements, analysis of stakeholder requirements and derivation of design requirements. The paper discusses benefits and issues from the use of the process by product development teams, and identifies areas for further research. Finally, the conclusions drawn from the reported research are presented.

并行工程系统集成方法的比较与应用研究

以并行工程的实践经验为基础,总结了并行工程系统集成4个方面的需求。比较了基于数据库、中间件、STE以及Agent等4种相关的系统集成技术,指出了它们的优缺点及适用范围,从而为并行工程系统集成技术的选择提供了重要的参考。目前,这些方法在航天并行工程和齐齐哈尔并行工程中都得到不同程度的应用,该文分析了它们在应用中存在的问题,并结合国外的有关研究,指出了解决这些问题的方法和进一步的研究方向。     

网络环境下流程导向的新产品开发知识管理策略研究*

主要总结了一些流行的观点和前沿研究结果,在综合技术、文化、管理和组织等方面综合因素的基础上,提出了流程导向的新产品开发知识管理应用模型,阐述了流程导向的新产品开发知识管理内涵,并以汽车新产品开发为例对其进行了说明。