Mikael Ström

Implementing Support for Management of Mechatronic Product Data in PLM Systems: Two Case Studies

In this study, product information models of two different companies both developing advanced mechatronic products are described, compared, and implemented in demonstrators. This has been done in order to investigate to what extent currently available PLM systems can manage this integration. The study shows that requirements for mechatronic product data are rather similar in the two companies. Differences involve the amount of product data generated in a development project, but there are also other differences related to development traditions. The contribution of the study is an evaluation of how integrated information models for mechatronic development can be managed in PLM systems. It is concluded that this can be done, however this requires a modified approach to software engineering.Copyright

A method to understand and improve your engineering processes using Value Stream Mapping

This paper describes two ways of mapping engineering processes in product development—Value Stream Mapping (VSM) and a simplified variant of VSM—which are compared with Process Mapping (PM). PM is closely related to VSM but applied differently although the goal—to identify possible process improvements—is often the same. The results of the study indicate that simplified ways of doing VSM are the most feasible. They are easier to get started with, they have a higher potential for improvement of the process and one gets an instant overview of the mapped process. Further, it is more likely that the improvement will be implemented when the users are committed through their involvement in the mapping process.