Integrated management of hierarchical levels: towards a CAPE tool

The integration of decision-making procedures usually assigned to different hierarchical production systems requires the use of complex mathematical models and high computational efforts, in addition to the need of an extensive management of data and knowledge within the production systems. This work addresses this integration problem and proposes a comprehensive solution approach, as well as guidelines for Computer Aided Process Engineering (CAPE) tools managing the corresponding cyberinfrastructure. This study presents a methodology based on a domain ontology which is used as the connector between the introduced data, the different available formulations developed to solve the decision-making problem, and the necessary information to build the finally required problem instance. The methodology has demonstrated its capability to help exploiting different available decision-making problem formulations in complex cases, leading to new applications and/or extensions of these available formulations in a robust and flexible way.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Requirements analysis in the implementation of integrated PLM, ERP and CAD systems

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system implementation is a major investment when the technology is used in manufacturing companies. This paper provides an analysis of the requirements for the integration of PLM systems with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems incorporating the design aspects of Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) within the product development process. PLM implementation deals with various existing product data and information generated over years both from CAD and ERP systems. Data integration is very challenging and has important impact on future decisions while creating new processes. The information management plays very important role not only in PLM implementation but also in the way this will be used in future production. Therefore it is very important to analyse how product information is transferred to PLM system. It also need to be investigated that what, when and how the data will flow from and to PLM systems

KUE-online - a data-management-system supporting the handling of design exercises

This contribution shows a way to introduce topics like CAD (Computer Aided Design) and EDM/PDM (Engineering/Product Data Management) into the lecture courses within the framework of the studies of Production Engineering at the Saarland University in Germany a very practical fashion. The students have the possibility to transfer digital documents of their design exercise solutions online using the Internet-portal of the supervising institute

The Paradigm оf Training Bachelors іn Mechanical Engineering Using PLM-Technologies оf Cad Software

Стаття присвячена аналізу актуальності використання наскрізного моделювання – Product lifecycle management (PLM) при професійній підготовці бакалаврів з механічної інженерії, а також обґрунтуванню необхідності вивчення функціональних можливостей основних систем автоматизації конструкторської та технологічної підготовки виробництва – Computer-aided design (CAD), Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) та Computer-aided engineering (CAE). Аналіз попередніх досліджень науковців показав, що впровадження наскрізного моделювання при виробництві продукції на підприємствах стає актуальним питанням. В таких умовах існує гостра необхідність у фахівцях, що можуть виконувати будь-які задачі, пов’язані зі створенням геометричних моделей продукції, інженерними розрахунками, а також проведенням розробки технологічного процесу виробництва. Крім того, було встановлено, що при поточній економічній ситуації, коли невеликі підприємства не здатні перейти на багатофункціональні програмні комплекси, залишається необхідність у роботі в незалежних системах, які потребують розпізнавання даних, конвертації файлів, а також оптимізації геометричних моделей. Також було акцентовано увагу на тому, що для вивчення основ систем автоматизованого проектування (САПР) немає необхідності у роботі з десятками програмних засобів, адже сучасні засоби комп’ютерного моделювання мають досить схожі інтерфейси, а також подібний функціонал.This article analyzes the relevance of the use of end-to-end simulation Product lifecycle management (PLM) in the professional training of bachelors in mechanical engineering, as well as the necessity to study the functionality of the basic systems of automation of design and technological preparation of production - Computer-aided design (CAD), Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and Computer-aided engineering (CAE). The analysis of the previous research scientists showed that the introduction of end-to-end simulation in the production process at the enterprises becomes a pressing issue. In such circumstances there is an urgent need for professionals who can perform any task related to the creation of geometric product models, engineering calculations and conducting process development production. In addition, it was found that in the current economic climate, when small businesses were not able to go on the multifunction software, you will still want to work in the independent systems that require data recognition, conversion, and optimization of geometric models. Also, there was emphasis on the fact that for learning the basics of computer aided design (CAD) there is no need to work with dozens of software, because modern means of computer simulation have very similar interfaces and similar functions

A MODEL BASED APPROACH TO THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPUTER AIDED PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

This work investigated the use of generic models in the early stages of the design and implementation of computer aided production management (CAPM) systems. A set of issues that affect the success of such CAPM systems was identified, using information obtained from literature and observations made by the author during an in-depth case study of the design and implementation of a CAPM system. The set of issues included the failure of many manufacturing companies to take a systemic perspective of CAPM and the importance of developing a thorough understanding of existing systems and how these systems are currently integrated. Requirements were proposed for an improved approach to the design and implementation of CAPM systems. Taking the requirements into consideration the concepts underlying the use of and types of models were explored. In particular, the use of generic models and how generic models could help manufacturing companies were considered. The work also investigated the use of soft systems thinking and the concept of a business process to encourage a systemic perspective to be taken. A genetic process model was proposed as a means of meeting the requirements of an improved approach. A generic model of an "order fulfilment" process in a manufacturing company was developed and a way of using it which embodies soft systems principles was proposed. The model and its use was validated using five key needs of practitioners. The validation involved a review of the model by practitioners and the use of the model in a local company as part of a project to design and implement a CAPM system. The originality of this work lies in the development by the author of a generic model which can be used as part of an improved model based approach to the design and implementation of CAPM systems. This should provide clear advantages over existing approaches

Computer aided estimating for civil engineering contractors

At the start of the research the impact of computers upon the world of estimating for civil engineering works had been minimal and barely touched the six thousand middle sized companies within the construction industry, The challenge of the research was to: -determine the requirements of a computer aided estimating system for civil engineering estimators: -to design a system to meet those requirements; -to produce and field test the system: -to explore the use of estimator's data within other functions within the contractor's organization, A study and critical appraisal of previous research and the six types of existing estimating systems was made to determine why computers have failed to make an impact upon this area of the construction industry, The estimating and tendering process was examined by interviewing eight estimators from three different civil engineering companies a minimum of four times over a period of one year. Eleven existing methods of task analysis were examined, were found satisfactory for the analysis of the estimator's tasks for the purpose of the research, A hybrid method of analysis was developed which was used to analyse the estimator's tasks for the purpose of producing a Specification for a computer aided estimating system, The system was produced by an iterative method of design, development, testing and re-design until an acceptable solution was reached, The system was tested by: -installing a minicomputer within the estimating department of a civil engineering contractor's organization and inviting six estimators to test and comment on the system; -demonstrating the system to individuals and groups of practising estimators from forty construction companies where comments on all aspects were noted, As a result of the research a computer aided estimating system that was acceptable to civil engineering estimators was produced, To date eight such systems have been installed within contractor's offices and this fact gives some indication of the success in meeting this main objective. The other outcome of this work is: the determination of the implementation and user support requirements for the introduction of computer aided estimating systems into contractor's organizations; the production of user support facilities for the system including a comprehensive user manual and training programmes for the system, In addition the work has created a platform for the construction of a completed linked suite of construction management programmes unavailable before because of the paucity of existing computer aided estimating systems

Framework for Product Lifecycle Management integration in Small and Medium Enterprises networks

In order to improve the performance of extended enterprises, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) must be integrated into the extended networks. This integration must be carried out on several levels which are mastered by the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). But, PLM is underdeveloped in SMEs mainly because of the difficulties in implementing information systems. This paper aims to propose a modeling framework to facilitate the implementation of PLM systems in SMEs. Our approach proposes a generic model for the creation of processes and data models. These models are explained, based on the scope and framework of the modeling, in order to highlight the improvements provided

An extensible manufacturing resource model for process integration

Driven by industrial needs and enabled by process technology and information technology, enterprise integration is rapidly shifting from information integration to process integration to improve overall performance of enterprises. Traditional resource models are established based on the needs of individual applications. They cannot effectively serve process integration which needs resources to be represented in a unified, comprehensive and flexible way to meet the needs of various applications for different business processes. This paper looks into this issue and presents a configurable and extensible resource model which can be rapidly reconfigured and extended to serve for different applications. To achieve generality, the presented resource model is established from macro level and micro level. A semantic representation method is developed to improve the flexibility and extensibility of the model

AI and OR in management of operations: history and trends

The last decade has seen a considerable growth in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for operations management with the aim of finding solutions to problems that are increasing in complexity and scale. This paper begins by setting the context for the survey through a historical perspective of OR and AI. An extensive survey of applications of AI techniques for operations management, covering a total of over 1200 papers published from 1995 to 2004 is then presented. The survey utilizes Elsevier's ScienceDirect database as a source. Hence, the survey may not cover all the relevant journals but includes a sufficiently wide range of publications to make it representative of the research in the field. The papers are categorized into four areas of operations management: (a) design, (b) scheduling, (c) process planning and control and (d) quality, maintenance and fault diagnosis. Each of the four areas is categorized in terms of the AI techniques used: genetic algorithms, case-based reasoning, knowledge-based systems, fuzzy logic and hybrid techniques. The trends over the last decade are identified, discussed with respect to expected trends and directions for future work suggested

Pomen integriranih IS pri načrtovanju, vodenju in nadzoru proizvodnje

The Importance of Integrated Information Systems in Production Planning, Management and Control Information technology plays an important role in managing made-to-order production where it ensures reliable and up-to-date information. Such information enables efficient decision-making and management of production processes. Beside essential information necessary for production planning, management functions also enter into the system thus leading modern companies into computer integrated systems. The present paper presents the importance and role of integrated computer-aided production which brings companies real-time monitoring of production, timely and accurate decision-making and consequently, more efficient management of a production company.Pomembno vlogo pri obvladovanju naročniške proizvodnje predstavlja informacijska tehnologija, ki s svojo vlogo zagotavlja zanesljive in ažurne informacije. V danem trenutku omogočamo učinkovito odločanje in upravljanje procesov proizvodnega toka. Poleg pomembnih informacij, ki so potrebne za načrtovanje proizvodnje, v sistem vstopajo tudi funkcije upravljanja, kar vodi moderna podjetja v računalniško integrirane sisteme. V članku je predstavljen pomen in vloga integrirane računalniško podprte proizvodnje, ki podjetjem prinaša sprotno spremljanje proizvodnje, pravočasno in pravilno odločanje in s tem učinkovitejše upravljanje proizvodnega podjetja