Conceptual manufacturing system design based on early product information

This paper presents a new approach for the conceptual design of manufacturing systems based on early product information supported by model-based systems engineering. The approach consists of three parts: First, an integrated process model for product design and manufacturing systems planning, second, a systematic method for the conceptual design of manufacturing systems based on early product information, and third, a modelling approach based on a common design language for the collaboration between product design and manufacturing systems planning. The proposed approach is validated using an example from the automotive industry.