Amer Catic

Implementing a service-oriented PLM architecture focusing on support for engineering change management

The aim of the study is to implement a service-oriented architecture (SOA) and evaluate its applicability to an industrial case, using PLM services 2.0. This paper focuses on IT support for engineering change management (ECM). ECM is a cross-functional process including several technology fields and life cycle stages. The product information is accessible from a service layer where it is either used directly by the user or provided as input to knowledge-based engineering (KBE) applications which simulate and analyse the impact of an engineering change. It is concluded that SOA is an efficient architecture that enables integration of KBE applications. PLM services 2.0 is a competent new standard that needs improvements regarding documentation and more detail. In general, it can be concluded that it is necessary to invest more in data management and support capabilities, and that SOA contributes to taking better control of the business logic in comparison with other PLM architectures.

Exploring the Possibilities of Using Image Recognition Technology to Create a Hybrid Lean System for Pulse Methodology

Processes in product development are becoming more and more complex. A multitude of engineering disciplines are involved in the development of new products. New lean and agile methods arise. Pulse methodology is a lean deviation management methodology introduced by Scania in 2003, and since then many Swedish companies adapted it. It is based on synchronizing the company by frequently having short meetings (aka. pulse meetings) and visualizing the deviations using traffic coded magnets on whiteboards (aka. pulse boards). Even though the whiteboards lack providing efficient communication between distributed teams, still the users appreciate the simplicity of them. In this research, we presented a new methodology called hybrid pulse methodology, which solves the communication issues exist in the baseline methodology. We tested the methodology at the workshops we held in the companies, in simulated global meeting settings, using the demonstrator we developed for the methodology. This research contributes to the lean literature with a new methodology that ensures the synchronization of global organizations by providing efficient communication between distributed teams without damaging the baseline methodology.

Effective method for creating engineering checklists

This paper presents the results of an empirical study of a project whose aim was to develop a driveline for commercial vehicle applications containing a totally new mechatronic sub-system with a significant amount of new functions and interfaces. The purpose of the empirical study was to identify areas where explicit knowledge management efforts are needed in the development process of a mechatronic systems integrator. The results show that the management of knowledge related to component/system interfaces is not addressed neither in the state of practice nor the state of the art. Based on these findings, the method of engineering checklists to manage interface-related knowledge was found suitable. Methods on how to implement engineering checklists however are largely lacking and the main contribution of this paper is a method dedicated to creating engineering checklists from a knowledge management perspective. The evaluation of the developed method indicates a high level of both usefulness and usability of the method in the processes of the studied company along with potential improvement mainly regarding the instructions for the application of the method.

Towards global deviation management in product development using pulse methodology: A case study

Problem solving is an important part of product development. Efficient deviation management together with efficient synchronization can increase the problem solving capabilities of companies. In this paper, we present a deviation management methodology called pulse methodology, which is widely used for product development management in Sweden. It is based on identifying deviations with traffic-coded magnets on a whiteboard and synchronizing the company with frequent meetings. We describe both the baseline pulse methodology and a specific adaptation case of it in a Swedish product development company where this research was carried out. Results showed that pulse methodology manages deviations in local projects efficiently and brings further benefits to the company. The aim of this research is to make the case company more efficient at managing deviations in global projects; specifically help them use pulse methodology for also global projects. In order to do so, we proposed improvements on pulse methodology to make it feasible to be used for global projects. The results have implications to all companies that use or want to use pulse methodology for managing deviations in global projects.

Manufacturing Experience In a Design Context Enabled By a Service Oriented PLM Architecture

An increased competition on the product development market pushes the industry to continually improve product quality and reduce product cost. There is also a trend towards considering a products life cycle aspects including environmental sustainability. The manufacturing process is a major cost driver in the product life cycle; hence, there are many initiatives to improve manufacturability and reduce production cost. Learning from earlier projects is essential to avoid recurrence of problems and is generally realized through use of concurrent engineering and design for manufacturing (DFM). Other research provides general DFM principles which state detailed guidelines for how different geometries combined with different manufacturing processes affect component quality and cost. The real competitive edge lies however in the development and application of company specific DFM principles that are based on manufacturing experiences. To do so requires an overview of and access to the collected manufacturing experiences. The aim of this paper is to point out key enablers for efficient reuse of manufacturing experience, which is considered to contribute to lower product cost and higher product quality. A study performed at an automotive and at an aerospace engine manufacturer pointed out the apparent need and lack of reuse of manufacturing experiences in product development. Applications supporting reuse of manufacturing experience through embedded DFM knowledge in designer’s CAD system were found in the literature. The issue of integrating these applications with the enterprise environment, in order to capitalize on existing sources of manufacturing experience, is addressed with a proposed solution applying a service oriented PLM architecture. In addition, a graphical user interface visualizing the manufacturing experience in a combined product and process context was developed. The validation of these proposed and developed solutions was done through interviews and workshops. The conclusions are that visualization of manufacturing experiences in a combined product and process context provides improved understanding of how the experiences relate to each process history and that a key enabler for integration of information in heterogeneous environments is the use of standard service oriented architectures and neutral formats.