A reference framework following a proactive approach for Product Lifecycle Management

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) has been identified as a key concept within manufacturing industries for improving product quality, time-to-market and costs. Previous works on this field are focused on processes, functions and information models, and those aimed at putting more intelligence on products are related to specific parts of the product lifecycle (e.g. supply chain management, shop floor control). Therefore, there is a lack of a holistic approach to PLM, putting more intelligence on products through the complete lifecycle. In this paper, a PLM framework supported by a proactive approach based on intelligent agents is proposed. The developed model aims at being a first step toward a reference framework for PLM, and complements past works on both product information and business process models (BPM), by putting proactivity on product's behavior. An example of an instantiation of the reference framework is presented as a case study.     

A collaboration model for new product development through the integration of PLM and SCM in the electronics industry

As customer requirements for high-tech products vary and become complicated, the lifecycle of these products becomes much shorter. In response to this market environment, many manufacturing companies have established a global simultaneous launch strategy for new products to occupy markets before competitors. In this process, careful scheduling of the global simultaneous launch strategy is critical. In particular, to meet the launch schedule for each country in which a new product will be released, a collaboration process among relevant departments must be prepared, and correct product information should be maintained among major cooperative work support systems according to new product development business processes. This paper suggests a collaboration model integrating product lifecycle management and supply chain management as an approach to supporting complicated new product development procedures. We use a practical case study to evaluate this model.     

A product lifecycle management methodology for supporting knowledge reuse in the consumer packaged goods domain

The present globalized market is forcing many companies to invest in new strategies and tools for supporting knowledge management. This aspect is becoming a key factor in the industrial competitiveness for the presence of extended enterprises that normally deal with huge data exchange and share processes. This scenario is due to the presence of partners geographically distributed over the entire globe, that participate in different steps of the product lifecycle (product development, maintenance and recycling). At present, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) seems to be the appropriate solution to support enterprises in this complex scenario, even though a real standardized approach for the implementation of knowledge sharing and management tools does not exist today. For this reason, the aim of this paper is to develop a knowledge management operative methodology able to support the formalization and the reuse of the enterprise expertise acquired while working on previous products. By focusing on consumer packaged goods enterprises and on the concept development phase (which is one of the most knowledge intensive phases of the whole product lifecycle), this research work has developed a new systematic methodology to support knowledge codification and knowledge management operations. The new methodology integrates the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and the Teoriya Resheniya Izobreatatelskikh Zadatch (TRIZ). Also, a case study on the problem of waste disposal has been conducted to validate the proposed methodology.     

Collaborative innovation in ubiquitous systems

Advances in microelectronics, semiconductor and information and communication technologies allow the creation and the development of ubiquitous systems. These intelligent systems would enable and support new dimensions of collaboration that can make business processes more efficient. In this paper, we analyse the possible contribution of the upcoming level of intelligence to collaborative innovation processes within and between enterprises as well. Considering collaborative networks and virtual organisations we propose a cyclic structure for innovation and a number of ubiquitous systems that have the potential to support different phases of the process. They would empower already existing Data Management Systems by functionalities and features of ubiquity and contribute to the future extension of the product lifecycle management approach (PLM).     

面向PLM的产品设计资源集成系统

通过分析产品生命周期管理（PLM）的思想并结合制造企业现状和未来发展趋势,设计了面向PLM的产品设计资源集成系统方案。在设计时分别建立实体、功能和流程的模型,并在此基础上建立协同BOM模型、系统集成模型以支持产品导向设计管理,分割流程模型以支持设计各阶段协同管理。通过AOP设计方法建立与模型对应的系统体系架构,实现系统的柔性和持续化发展。     

产品生命周期管理的一种新策略——协同产品商务

笔者认为保持离散型制造企业活力的根本出路是产品创新,通过Ｉnternet把与产品有关的个体和组织连接起来、进行全球范围的知识协作是保持产品创新的有效手段,给出了协同产品商务（ＣＰＣ）的定义,对ＣＰＣ的主要作用、技术可行性、基础结构和实施关键因素进行了探讨,认为ＣＰＣ将成为以产品为核心进行全球协作的发展方向。     

P2P Data synchronization for product lifecycle management

Intelligent products are an undeniable asset for efficient product lifecycle management (PLM), providing ways to capture events related to physical objects at various locations and times. Today and more than ever before, PLM tools and systems must be built upon standards for enhancing interoperability among all product stakeholders and developing tools independent of specific vendors, applications, and operating systems. Based on this observation, this paper develops strategies to improve “information sustainability” in PLM environments using standardized communication interfaces defined by a recent standard proposal named quantum lifecycle management (QLM) messaging standards. More concretely, data synchronization models based upon QLM standards are developed to enable the synchronization of product-related information among various systems, networks, and organizations involved throughout the product lifecycle. Our proposals are implemented and assessed based on two distinct platforms defined in the healthcare and home automation sectors.     

Adaptive generic product structure modelling for design reuse in engineer-to-order products

In product lifecycle management, the efficiency of information reuse relies on the definition and management of equivalence information between various product data and structure representations. Equivalence information ensures the consistency and traceability of product information throughout the product lifecycle. The sales-delivery process of engineer-to-order (ETO) products presents a great potential for design reuse, i.e. the reuse of previously validated design solutions in the design of new product variants according to customer-specific requirements. A product family data model that focuses on the interdependencies of viewpoints on information will therefore improve the setup of design reuse mechanisms such as modularity. This paper describes the Adaptive Generic Product Structure (AGPS), a dynamic structure-based product family modelling approach that enables the systematic aggregation of product variants and their distinctive components. The purpose of the approach is to capitalize on the expanding component variety developed within previous product variants as early as the sales lead phase of the sales-delivery process, in order to reduce customer-driven design costs and shorten lead-times. An illustrative example based on the aerospace industry is presented.     

Product relationships management enabler for concurrent engineering and product lifecycle management

The current competitive industrial context requires more flexible, intelligent and compact product lifecycles, especially in the product development process where several lifecycle issues have to be considered, so as to deliver lifecycle oriented products. This paper describes the application of a novel product relationships management approach, in the context of product lifecycle management (PLM), enabling concurrent product design and assembly sequence planning. Previous work has provided a foundation through a theoretical framework, enhanced by the paradigm of product relational design and management. This statement therefore highlights the concurrent and proactive aspect of assembly oriented design vision. Central to this approach is the establishment and implementation of a complex and multiple viewpoints of product development addressing various stakeholders design and assembly planning points of view. By establishing such comprehensive relationships and identifying related relationships among several lifecycle phases, it is then possible to undertake the product design and assembly phases concurrently. Specifically, the proposed work and its application enable the management of product relationship information at the interface of product-process data management techniques. Based on the theory, models and techniques such as described in previous work, the implementation of a new hub application called PEGASUS is then described. Also based on web service technology, PEGASUS can be considered as a mediator application and/or an enabler for PLM that externalises product relationships and enables the control of information flow with internal regulation procedures. The feasibility of the approach is justified and the associated benefits are reported with a mechanical assembly as a case study.     

Information dissemination framework for context-aware products

In recent years, some scholars claimed the usage of intelligent products to make systems more efficient throughout the Product Life Cycle (PLC). Integrating intelligence and information into products themselves is possible with, among others, auto-ID technologies (barcode, RFID, …). In this paper, a new kind of intelligent product is introduced, referred to as “communicating material” paradigm. Through this paradigm, a product is (i) capable of embedding information on all or parts of the material that it is made of and (ii) capable of undergoing physical transformations without losing its communication ability and the data that is stored on it. This new material is used in our study to convey information between the different actors of the PLC, thus improving data interoperability, availability and sustainability. Although “communicating materials” provide new abilities compared to conventional products, they still have low memory capacities compared to product databases that become larger and larger. An information dissemination framework is developed in this paper to select the appropriate information to be stored on the product, at different stages of the PLC. This appropriateness is based on a degree of data relevance, which is computed by taking into account the context of use of the product (actor’s expectations, environment, …). This framework also provides the tools to split information on all or parts of the material. A case study is presented, which aims at embedding context-sensitive information on “communicating textiles”.     

Industrial Internet Platform (IIP) enabled Smart Product Lifecycle-Service System (SPLSS) for manufacturing model transformation: From an industrial practice survey

Nowadays, the focus of enterprises is gradually expanding from product manufacturing system to Product service system (PSS). In the existing research, scholars mainly focus on the in-depth study of a certain method or technology, and the research on traditional PSS is relatively mature. In addition, it is a tendency that transform towards SPLSS with the characteristics of industrial internet platform (IIP) and sustainable operation theory. Based on this, this paper explores the research path from traditional product service system (PSS) to smart product service system (SPSS), and then to smart product lifecycle service system (SPLSS), which can endow the products with intelligent perception, intelligent analysis and intelligent decision-making capabilities based on Industrial Internet Platform (IIP). A reference model of IIP enabled SPLSS for industrial services based on system engineering method and theory from a very detailed practical investigation is proposed. Moreover, on the basis of this model, its three dimensional subsystems are expanded, including: supporting environment subsystem, evolution path subsystem, and added value subsystem. The study can provide a reference for the enterprise's manufacturing strategy and manufacturing path. It will promote the transformation and upgrading of enterprise manufacturing model to improve service efficiency and reduce operating costs, and then realize the value-added of products and services.     

Software product roadmapping in a volatile business environment

Product roadmapping enhances the product development process by enabling early information and long-term decision making about the products in order to deliver the right products to the right markets at the right time. However, relatively little scientific knowledge is available on the application and usefulness of product roadmapping in software product development context. This study develops a framework for software product roadmapping, which is then used to study the critical aspects of the product roadmapping process. The collection of empirical evidence includes both quantitative and qualitative data which sheds further insight into the complexities involved in product roadmapping. Results revealed that organizations view the product roadmap mainly as a tool for strategic decision making as it aims at showing the future directions of the company's products. However, only a few companies appear to have an explicit approach for handling the mechanisms for creating and maintaining such a roadmap. Finally, it is suggested that the strategic importance of product roadmapping is likely to increase in the future and, as a conclusion, a new type of agility is required in order to survive in the turbulent and competitive software business environment.     

基于IXF标准的分布式产品数据交换技术研究

产品数据交换技术是分布式产品开发过程的使能技术之一。中性的产品数据表达格式——IXF是一种新出现的基于XML的数据交换标准，属性(Attribute)、类(Class)、类行为(Class Behavior)和对象(Object)是IXF标准中的核心概念，基于XML语法的表达形式使之成为Internet时代产品数据交换标准家族中的重要一员，IXF的应用模式为从事于该领域的研究和应用人员提供了新的技术方案。     

An integration framework for product lifecycle management

The need for integrating business and technical information systems, allowing partners to collaborate effectively in creating innovative products, has motivated the design and deployment of a novel integration framework for product lifecycle management. The time is ripe for such an integration framework because of the convergence of three important developments, almost in a perfect storm: (1) maturity of standardized product data and meta-data models, and standardized engineering and business processes; (2) emergence of service-oriented architecture for information sharing; and (3) availability of robust middleware to implement them. These developments allow engineering and business objects and processes to be built or composed as modular pieces of software in the form of services that can communicate with each other and be used across different parts of a business. These modular software pieces can be reused and reconfigured in new ways as business conditions change, thereby saving time and money for companies. This paper describes the business and technical aspects of an integration framework for product lifecycle management using open standards and service-oriented architecture.     

Information sharing and exchange in the context of product lifecycle management: Role of standards

This paper introduces a model of the information flows in Product Life cycle Management (PLM), serving as the basis for understanding the role of standards in PLM support systems. Support of PLM requires a set of complementary and interoperable standards that cover the full range of aspects of the products’ life cycle. The paper identifies a typology of standards relevant to PLM support that addresses the hierarchy of existing and evolving standards and their usage and identifies a suite of standards supporting the exchange of product, process, operations and supply chain information. A case study illustrating the use of PLM standards in a large organization is presented. The potential role of harmonization among PLM support standards is described and a proposal is made for using open standards and open source models for this important activity.     

Green product design through product modularization using atomic theory

With increasing environmental consciousness and the establishment of environmental protection regulations, green product design not only plays a crucial role in a modern industry but is also becoming the main focus of the future market. In this paper, an innovative method is presented that uses the concepts of atomic theory to solve design modularization problems for green product design. With the developed method, products can be modularized based upon given green constraints, e.g., material compatibility, part recyclability, and part disassemblability. The developed method can help engineers effectively create green designs in the initial design stage, based on product lifecycle requirements. With green considerations incorporated into new modules, a new design can be created that improves upon an original design, with respect to environmental impacts. Product designers can use our method to compare differences between their original designs and the new green modules and then perform necessary design modifications. A table lamp and a motor are used as case study examples to show the effectiveness of the atomic-theory-based green product design method.     

Product whole life-cycle and omni-channels data convergence oriented enterprise networks integration in a sensing environment

With the process of globalisation and the development of management models and information technologies, enterprise cooperation and collaboration meets a new business and technical environment. The Internet of things, mobile Internet, cloud computing and big data technologies build a sensing environment for all kinds of businesses. Inter enterprise collaboration is also meeting the new challenges of omni-channel marketing, closed-loop supply chain and enterprise networks integration. A data convergence oriented enterprise networks integration architecture with relative enabling technologies is developed in the paper. In order to collect, transfer and fuse data from different data sources, Data Portal (DP) and Collaboration Agent (CA) concepts are introduced, which present a lightweight and loosely coupled infrastructure for enterprise networks integration. How to use the developed technologies to solve problems of product lifecycle management and omni-channel marketing management are discussed in detailed cases studies.     

产品数据管理PDM系统功能与应用分析

产品数据管理(Product Data Management,PDM)是八十年代开始在国外兴起的一项管理企业产品生命周期内与产品相关数据的一种技术.这篇文章综述了PDM系统的起源,系统基本概念以及体系结构.概述了系统功能,并且详细介绍了核心技术之一--产品配置管理功能.分析了PDM与ERP之间的异同,还展望了PDM技术今后的发展趋势.