Integration of product and design data using a metadata- and a rule-based approach

Abstract

A design task is realized by several design activities defining a design process. The decomposition of design tasks into design activities is necessary because of the complexity of the tasks, of the design objects, and of the design methodologies and technologies. Today, computer aided tools are used for realizing the various design activities. Since they cannot realize all design activities, design objects must be pipelined through a number of such tools until the final design goals are reached. The result of a CA-tool forms the problem definition of the succeeding CA-tool. Since each CA-tool manages the product data by an individual data management system, the key problem is integrating design processes is the integration of the product and design data management. An often applied solution is a common product database, where all product data is stored in a universal and neutral way. But this concept has severe drawbacks: the representation and interpretation of product data is tedious and subjective, because product data has complex semantics. It requires training and expertise, and could be erroneous by making liberal use of common sense. This is where knowledge-based techniques come in. Hence, we introduce the knowledge-based META-NDB-concept. Following this concept, more attention is paid to a description of the semantics of product data than to product data itself. The META-NDB-concept provides an abstract, generic and flexible methodology for integrating the product data management. Finally, a true open system architecture is provided.