Research on the integrated management and mapping method of BOM multi-view for complex products

The bill of materials (BOM) runs through all stages of the life cycle of manufacturing products, which is the core of manufacturing enterprises. With increasing complexity of modern manufacturing engineering and widespread using of intelligent manufacturing technology, the BOM data keeps rising and transformation process is increasingly frequent and complicated. In order to improve efficiency of BOM management and ensure the diversity, accuracy and consistency of BOM in the product development, the BOM multi-view integrated management and mapping method for complex products were researched. First, a complex product BOM integrated management framework and the evolution model based on multiple views were established which described the BOM integrated management mechanism and transformation relationship among different BOMs. Subsequently, process of BOM transformation was analyzed, and a BOM transformation model was proposed. Moreover, a rule-based BOM multi-view mapping algorithm was proposed. With the rule definition and mathematical modelling for key components, the complex mapping principle was elaborated. Finally, the BOM multi-view transformation cases and the prototype system were illustrated and discussed, which verified the feasibility and versatility of model and method

A plm implementation for aerospace systems engineering-conceptual rotorcraft design

The thesis will discuss the Systems Engineering phase of an original Conceptual Design Engineering Methodology for Aerospace Engineering-Vehicle Synthesis. This iterative phase is shown to benefit from digitization of Integrated Product&Process Design (IPPD) activities, through the application of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) technologies. Requirements analysis through the use of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and 7 MaP tools is explored as an illustration. A "Requirements Data Manager" (RDM) is used to show the ability to reduce the time and cost to design for both new and legacy/derivative designs. Here the COTS tool Teamcenter Systems Engineering (TCSE) is used as the RDM. The utility of the new methodology is explored through consideration of a legacy RFP based vehicle design proposal and associated aerospace engineering. The 2001 American Helicopter Society (AHS) 18th Student Design Competition RFP is considered as a starting point for the Systems Engineering phase. A Conceptual Design Engineering activity was conducted in 2000/2001 by Graduate students (including the author) in Rotorcraft Engineering at the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA. This resulted in the "Kingfisher" vehicle design, an advanced search and rescue rotorcraft capable of performing the "Perfect Storm" mission, from the movie of the same name. The associated requirements, architectures, and work breakdown structure data sets for the Kingfisher are used to relate the capabilities of the proposed Integrated Digital Environment (IDE). The IDE is discussed as a repository for legacy knowledge capture, management, and design template creation. A primary thesis theme is to promote the automation of the up-front conceptual definition of complex systems, specifically aerospace vehicles, while anticipating downstream preliminary and full spectrum lifecycle design activities. The thesis forms a basis for additional discussions of PLM tool integration across the engineering, manufacturing, MRO and EOL lifecycle phases to support business management processes.M.S.Committee Chair: Schrage, Daniel P.; Committee Member: Costello, Mark; Committee Member: Wilhite, Alan, W

Discovering Windchill® Investigation of the Windchill® PLM System

This Master Thesis contains the whole development process of a basic-intermediate and advanced product lifecycle management (PLM) course for university students. The basic course has been written by Pol Rebenaque we worked together and after he has done the basic part about PLM and integrated between PLM and Creo 2(one of CAD module). I continue working on this course in advance level by investigating about other modules integrating CAD software and Microsoft Office in Windchill as well as the links with enterprise resource planning (ERP). First, theory about PLM is introduced to the readers. Afterwards, the necessary material to teach the course, including the planning of each lecture, the theory, the exercises or even the slides is presented. In this course students learn what PLM is and they work with a specific PLM software called Windchill, with which students learn how to manage a project, all kind of documents and especially to work with CAD data

An Assessment of the Degree of Implementation of the Lean Aerospace Initiative Principles and Practices within the US Aerospace and Defense Industry

This report is a formal documentation of the results of an assessment of the degree to which Lean Principles and Practices have been implemented in the US Aerospace and Defense Industry. An Industry Association team prepared it for the DCMA-DCAAIndustry Association “Crosstalk” Coalition in response to a “Crosstalk” meeting action request to the industry associations. The motivation of this request was provided by the many potential benefits to system product quality, affordability and industry responsiveness, which a high degree of industry Lean implementation can produce

Industry 4.0: product digital twins for remanufacturing decision-making

Currently there is a desire to reduce natural resource consumption and expand circular business principles whilst Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is regarded as the evolutionary and potentially disruptive movement of technology, automation, digitalisation, and data manipulation into the industrial sector. The remanufacturing industry is recognised as being vital to the circular economy (CE) as it extends the in-use life of products, but its synergy with I4.0 has had little attention thus far. This thesis documents the first investigating into I4.0 in remanufacturing for a CE contributing a design and demonstration of a model that optimises remanufacturing planning using data from different instances in a product’s life cycle. The initial aim of this work was to identify the I4.0 technology that would enhance the stability in remanufacturing with a view to reducing resource consumption. As the project progressed it narrowed to focus on the development of a product digital twin (DT) model to support data-driven decision making for operations planning. The model’s architecture was derived using a bottom-up approach where requirements were extracted from the identified complications in production planning and control that differentiate remanufacturing from manufacturing. Simultaneously, the benefits of enabling visibility of an asset’s through-life health were obtained using a DT as the modus operandi. A product simulator and DT prototype was designed to use Internet of Things (IoT) components, a neural network for remaining life estimations and a search algorithm for operational planning optimisation. The DT was iteratively developed using case studies to validate and examine the real opportunities that exist in deploying a business model that harnesses, and commodifies, early life product data for end-of-life processing optimisation. Findings suggest that using intelligent programming networks and algorithms, a DT can enhance decision-making if it has visibility of the product and access to reliable remanufacturing process information, whilst existing IoT components provide rudimentary “smart” capabilities, but their integration is complex, and the durability of the systems over extended product life cycles needs to be further explored

Product change management: to improve the through-life management of high-value, long-life products

The designs of complex products such as aircraft, trains and industrial plant continually evolve, during design, manufacture and also during their operating lives. Such products are invariably managed in complex multi-stakeholder environments. The product change process generates significant volumes of information and this continues through-life as designs are modified in the light of technological innovation, supplier changes and operating experience. The volume of information generated is enabled by increased network connectivity together with the competitive advantages that can be derived from greater product knowledge derived from monitoring product performance. As the service economy has grown, manufacturing and maintenance activities have increasingly been outsourced to enable a greater focus on higher, value-added, aftermarket, support services. Consequently, while the responsibility for managing the design of the end product rests with “Tier 1” manufacturers, operators and maintainers, there has been a significant increase in the responsibility for suppliers to manage design changes. To improve the management of the product change process is difficult because it spans many organizations in the supply chain and to make progress requires collaborative action. Managing products during their life, particularly in the context of design changes, is a complex process that requires the coordination of many activities spanning design, procurement, production, marketing, sales, support and disposal. These activities constitute a complex process model that is highly dependent on accurate information and can have a significant impact on an organization’s cost base. In addition "products" sold by a Manufacturer are often described as "assets" by a product operator. Regardless of whether something is considered a "product" or an "asset", the change process is supported by a value chain that spans both the domains of manufacturing and support services. Working practices and skills must constantly adapt in response to innovation and this includes the mental perspectives with which people view the world and solve problems. A significant challenge that organizations face when seeking to remain competitive relates to the need to respond to the challenges of innovation. This drives a perpetual cycle of problem solving whereby existing operations are assessed and opportunities for improvement identified. This research assesses the challenges to maintaining design integrity throughout the product lifecycle, explores the impact of inaccurate product information and sets-out an approach to achieving improvements to the management of product information specifically for complex products