Luiz Fernando C. S. Durão

PLM Process and Information Mapping for Mass Customization Based on Additive Manufacturing

Mass customization (MC) aims to support product individualization while maintaining scale advantages. There are different options to allow individual client influence throughout the product production process. Most efforts to bring the customer closer to manufacturing of their customized product are concentrated in the assembly stage, given the complexity to consider individual needs since design. Emerging information management and flexible manufacturing technologies can support advances in current customization approaches and levels. In this paper, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Additive Manufacturing (AM) solutions and technologies are applied to build a tailored customization scenario for the design and production of an assistive technology product considering individual characteristics of each customer. Based on the scenario simulation, the objective is to detail the process and information flow, which are essential in bringing clients’ specific needs into the design.

Integrated Component Data Model Based on UML for Smart Components Lifecycle Management: A Conceptual Approach

Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS) and Smart Products are considered key features in the development of the fourth industrial revolution. To create a connected environment in manufacturing based on CPPS, components must be able to store and exchange data with machines, and with other components and assemblies along the entire production system. At the same time, Smart Product features require that products and their components be able to store and exchange data throughout their entire lifecycle. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present a preliminary integrated component data model based on Unified Modeling Language (UML) for the implementation of CPPS and Smart Product features. The development of the data model is based on requirements gathered both from the literature review and from corporate interviews with potential users. The results are still preliminary since the research results are part of a bigger research effort under an international collaboration network.

Development of a Smart Assembly Data Model

Current technological advances pave the way for highly flexible production processes within Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS). In a CPPS, every component being produced may be represented by a virtual data model containing its own unique information. Components are also information carriers with communication features enabled by an Internet-based exchange of information. The exchange of information between components and with the production system may happen over the whole manufacturing process. The availability of detailed information about every component supports the implementation of optimized assembly processes, called Smart Assembly of smart components. Smart Assembly is an approach to assembling different components according to unique specifications of every product variant, and considering the most efficient combination of components for each assembly. Therefore, a structured component data model considering data storage and data access is needed. However, for the Smart Assembly of smart components, the underlying data structure and processes have to be developed. The objective of this paper is to propose a data structure to enable the Smart Assembly of components in an assemble-to-order production scenario. To achieve the proposed objective, two use cases have been developed to simulate the Smart Assembly of smart components.

PLM process and information mapping for mass customisation based on additive manufacturing

Product customisation is a competitive advantage in several industry sectors; however, it has posed a significant challenge for the industry. In many cases, higher levels of product individualisation result in increased complexity to manage individual customer information and leads to reduced scale cost advantages. Existing initiatives in product customisation are mainly focused on the product assembly stage of predefined variants, without changing product design or geometry. Recent information management and flexible manufacturing technologies can support advances in current customisation approaches and levels. In this paper, product lifecycle management (PLM) and additive manufacturing (AM) are combined to build a customisation scenario including geometry-based customisation for individual customer requirements. The aim of the paper is to describe the customisation scenario and to discuss the outcomes of the proposed scenario simulation considering an assistive technology product. Research results inclu...