Points of View Classification: A concept to Manage Knowledge Multi-representation in CAD Models and PDM/PLM Systems

Abstract

In order to address the market needs, and in a very strong competitive environment, manufactured products are more and more complex, involving expert knowledge from different domains and businesses. In order to design and manufacture products as quickly as possible, and engage the minimum costs, it is necessary to integrate all the expert knowledge earlier in the design process to make fast and robust decisions. In this vision, integrated design tools are available in order to reuse existing knowledge, elaborate solution concepts, and represent them. In this context, the Digital Mock- up (DMU) plays a central role which constitutes the central and principal element for the experts. However, each one of the experts should have a concept representation adapted to his business expertise. Thus, from a common element (digital mock-up) every expert should have a specific representation of the concept reflecting his knowledge and adapted to it. Often, multi-representation which is managed using a tree form, requires the definition of a hierarchy of different representations available using the concept of reference configuration. This paper proposes a different approach allowing the co-existence of different representations of the same technological concept, in an independent, flexible and extensible way. Points of view classification based on a “view management model” is used to manage knowledge multi-representation into the global data model in the digital mock-up.