Functional architecture and specifications for Tolerancing Data and Knowledge Management

Part 1: Knowledge ManagementInternational audienceThe paper deals with the Computer-Aided Tolerancing and Product Data Management. It is especially focus on data and knowledge management system to support and improve the tolerancing tasks in product development process. The first part of the paper introduces an overview about the recent developments related to tolerancing supports and data management systems. Based on a literature survey and industrial issues, the second part proposes a functional architecture and specifications of the data and knowledge manage-ment system addressing the numerous needs clarified by tolerancing experts

PLM in SME, what are we missing? an alternative view on PLM implementation for SME

Part 10: PLM Maturity, Implementation and AdoptionInternational audienceToday, the concept of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is widely accepted as strategically important. It is used to manage the increasing complexity of products, processes and organizations. The need to adopt PLM is growing rapidly for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SME). PLM implementations are costly and require a lot of effort. The business impact and financial risks are high for SME. Also, SMEs seem to have relatively more difficulties to benefit from PLM. The study at hand addresses the question, based on literature research, why these difficulties exist and how they can be overcome. To answer that question, three sub questions are discussed in this paper. (1) A generic PLM implementation process structure. (2) A list of identified PLM implementation challenges, specific for SME. (3) A classification of PLM research for SME, related to the common PLM implementation process structure. A hypothesis for a PLM implementation failure mechanism in SMEs is formulated, based on the findings. Also, a potential research gap on operational implementation knowledge in SMEs is identified

A Reference Model for PLM in the Area of Digitization

Part 5: Education in the Field of Industry 4.0International audienceWith the uprising discussion around digitization, the value of product data has reached a new level. Product Lifecycle Management aims to play a core role in enabling the digital transformation in industry. The focus of PLM has traditionally been on the management of processes and data to define product types while many concepts of digitization rest upon individual product instances. In the context of current PLM implementations, this new perspective is not yet widely understood. A model that explains the interaction of product type and its instances along the business processes is missing. This essay suggests a PLM reference model that separates the lifecycles of product types and product instance. Four phases in a closed loop process explain the interaction between type and instance and how they are connected to the business processes of a company. The model results from a series of workshops with industrial experts and was applied in several industrial projects

Decomposition Analysis Resolution Process (DAR) of Systems Engineering Applied to Development of Countermeasure on Leakage of Engine Head-Gasket

Part 5: Aeronautical and Automotive EngineeringInternational audienceThis paper reviews a countermeasure development of leakage from coolant seals of head-gaskets in a diesel engine applying the Decomposition Analysis and Resolution Process (DAR). We can find complexity arising from some causes of leakage even in a simple square-ring rubber seal. The major causes are (1) large displacement around a head-gasket generated by the combustion, (2) seal distortion at a high compression, (3) seal rubber degradation induced by coolant microorganism deterioration, (4) uncontrolled seal production and (5) unsuitable rubber composition. Through our DAR, we can resolve the complexity of the leakage and can clarify all the cause positions and their relationships. We can confirm that an improved silicone rubber seal, which has a higher fatigue strength, an excellent acid-resistance and a uniform contact property, is the correct resolution. This paper also shows development of a hydrogenated nitrile rubber seal as a permanent measure, which can extend the Middle of Life (MOL) of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) of the industrial diesel engine production

Comparison Framework for PLM Maturity Models

Part 8: Change Management and MaturityInternational audienceThroughout the recent years research about maturity models as well as their application possibilities has vastly increased in all sorts of organizations and institutions. The range of the topics they address has expanded as much as the way they can be structured and applied. One area, where the use of maturity models can have a great impact, is product lifecycle management (PLM). PLM is becoming more and more essential for companies as a way of staying competitive on any market due to enhanced understanding of complex processes and increased efficiency in the use of information throughout all stages of the lifecycle. In this regard, maturity models can be beneficial as methods to assess the organizations’ product lifecycle processes, illustrate improvement opportunities and even customize a roadmap to exploit them. However, considering the complex application options of maturity models, it can be difficult to choose an appropriate model for a certain purpose. This paper will provide a comparison framework for maturity models in the PLM area. The collected attributes as well as their categorized comparison shall provide guidance in choosing the correct maturity model depending on the user requirements

PLMXQuery: Towards a Standard PLM Querying Approach

Part 3: Tools and MethodologiesInternational audienceExperience with data exchange standards has shown considerable limitations in their integration in commercial tools and their interoperability. The current trend is to use XML as a mean of exchanging data. We present in this paper a new standard approach for querying and exporting data from PLM in XML format using XPath/XQuery languages. An abstraction effort and an adapter implementation were required to make PLM content as usable as XML document. Afterward, the resulting XML content could be directly reused or converted to another format

The Benefits and Impact of Digital Twins in Product Development Phase of PLM

Part 6: Product-Service Systems and Smart ProductsInternational audienceThe concept of the Digital Twins offers opportunities for business-to-business (B2B) manufacturing companies to co-create and maintain Product-Service-Systems. This facilitates closer relationship with customers over the lifespan of the delivered solution. However, the definition of the Digital Twin is not yet established in the companies that took part in this research that forms the basis to understand the relationship between the Digital Twins and Product-Service-Systems.The objective of this paper is to define the concepts of Digital Twin and real-time simulation, and increase understanding of the benefits and impacts that B2B companies face when applying real-time simulation, and understand where the transformation should start in Product Lifecycle Management. The case companies that participated in this research are mobile work machine manufactures, but the findings are applicable to other B2B manufacturing companies which have complex solution deliveries that are managed over the lifecycle.Results of this study show that B2B manufacturing companies are using real-time simulation to create digital twins of their real-world solutions. The companies participating in the research project create functioning digital twins but managing them is tedious and not integrated to the Product Lifecycle Management operations. First, only applying this to product development is not enough, but the management must cover the entire lifecycle of the product from Beginning (BOL), Middle (MOL) and End-of-Lifecycle (EOL). Second, the need to rethink the approach to product development and management is a key for success. Otherwise, the result is a virtual representation of the real world that is impossible to maintain at industrial level