Model-Based Enterprise Approach in the Product Lifecycle Management: State-of-the-Art and Future Research Directions

Angelo Corallo,Angela Luperto,Vito Del Vecchio,Marianna Lezzi

doi:10.3390/su14031370

Abstract

Innovations in product development and process technologies represent a promising strategy to face the increasing competitiveness of modern markets in the global economy. Also, customer requirements become more and more specific and the complexity of products is still increasing. Industries need to adopt effective solutions during the product development process and to support, for sustainable purposes, all the phases of the product lifecycle. Advanced model-based solutions emerge for digitally supporting these industrial needs. In this context, a Model-Based Enterprise (MBE) represents an organization that adopts modeling technologies, such as Model-Based Definition (MBD) solutions, to integrate and manage both technical and business processes related to product design, production, support, and retirement. Past research discusses the model-based approaches focusing on technical product development, mainly referring to the design and the manufacturing phases. A wide perspective from the other phases of lifecycle seems to lack in the literature. By carrying out a systematic literature review, this research aims to investigate the relationships between the MBE approaches and the product lifecycle phases and to identify potential benefits and challenges. It enhances the academic knowledge domain by also shedding light on potential future research directions.

Highlights

To be competitive in the modern markets and in the global economy, where the complexity of products is still increasing, the industries need to adopt effective solutions during the product development process and to support, for sustainable purposes, all the phases of product lifecycle [1,2]
The collection of papers started by defining a search string for the major scientific databases, such as Scopus and Web of Science
While the Model-Based Enterprise (MBE) represents the organizational approach of applying modeling and simulation technologies for improving the performance of the development process, the Model-Based Definition (MBD) can be seen as an enabling digital driver based on the use of 3D computer-aided design (CAD) models to fully define the product, including all the related information

Summary

Introduction

To be competitive in the modern markets and in the global economy, where the complexity of products is still increasing, the industries need to adopt effective solutions during the product development process and to support, for sustainable purposes, all the phases of product lifecycle [1,2]. Many product development processes are no longer serial step-by-step processes and, the design and the engineering activities are generally a waterfall process where engineers work independently and in parallel. For all these reasons, it is critical to have a single definitive data source to ensure data accuracy, consistency and to better manage the product lifecycle [5]. Advanced model-based solutions, including both technologies and methodologies, emerge for supporting digitally the development of a product and all its lifecycle phases, and to create a digital representation of real business processes and products.

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