Generic Product Model Research Articles

Generic product model of river tourism in Ho Chi Minh City

River tourism has been oriented as one of the specific tourism products of Ho Chi Minh City since 2014. However, the approaches to the generic product model of river tourism, generally in Vietnam, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, have been neglected. This study initially analyzes the current status of five foundational elements of the generic tourism product basing on Smith's model (1994) in terms of diversification and intensification. Those elements include tourism resources, services, hospitality, freedom of choice, and visitor engagement. Research results show that, although Ho Chi Minh City has advantages in natural and cultural resource conditions to develop river tourism products, the rest groups of intangible elements, namely service level, hospitality, degree of choices and participations in experiential activities, are still under-invested. The study uses a variety of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods such as visitor questionnaire survey, business representative interviews and field trip to attempt to reach multi-dimensional stakeholders of river tourism system. This work once again affirms the significance of systematically integrated management which enhances visitor-centered interactions. Therefore, destination competitive advantage of Ho Chi Minh City is expected to improve through unique river tourism products in the coming time.

Product similarity assessment for conceptual one-of-a-kind product design: A weight distribution approach

Case-based reasoning (CBR) is a promising methodology for assisting conceptual product design. The efficiency of case retrieval determines the quality of design. In one-of-a-kind product design, customer activities are increasingly involved. Under the circumstances customized product design results in the increase of product variety, which produces a large case library. This brings difficulties in managing customized product families, and also results in issues in retrieving similar cases. In the scope of our knowledge, Only limited studies attempt to research case retrieval by addressing these OKP practice for its conceptual product design. Moreover, customer requirements (CRs) are not fully interpreted to guide this process at the preliminary design stage. To cope with these issues, approaches for elicitation of CRs and retrieving appropriate cases play essential roles in successful case retrieval for OKP. This paper proposes a modularized generic product model (MGPM) for managing OKP product families. This structured generic product model can represent a significant number of product/module/component variants in a single product model. Also, the weight distribution model (WDM) is developed for assign weighting factors of CRs to multi levels of product physical configuration. For similarity assessment, a weighted distance-based algorithm is developed to calculate the degree of similarity between the target case and the reference cases. A case study on the fruit chute system is carried out to prove the efficiency and industrial applicability of the proposed approach. The result shows that the propose approach is capable of effectively retrieving similar product/part variants according to specified CRs.

ERP data sharing framework using the Generic Product Model (GPM)

Nowadays, all product life cycle processes are investigated deeply in order to get an advantage over competitors. To support these processes, several software applications are available. However, this wide range of heterogeneous applications leads to a large variety of hardware and operating systems, data management software, data models, schemas, and data semantics that hinder the information sharing process. To tackle this problem, Hitachi Company has developed a modeling language called Generic Product Model (GPM) in addition to several translators from native formats to GPM for storing, sharing and visualizing product data in a single data warehouse. In order to broaden the range of application data able to be stored and shared using the GPM data warehouse, this paper presents a methodology and a translator that allow management data to be included in a GPM data warehouse. Given the fact that most management data are stored in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, and that the latter allows extraction of database contents into Excel files, we propose a translator that handles Enterprise Resource Planning management data that are already extracted into Excel Format. The proposed framework enables data management contained in flat Excel Files to be translated into structured GPM data. Translation methodologies are given for the translation of mass production and customized product data through two case studies, one in the computer retail sector and the other in the extrusion machine industry.

OWL DL을 사용한 GPM 핵심 모델의 구현

GPM(Generic Product Model)은 원자력 플랜트의 라이프 사이클 데이터를 통합, 공유하기 위하여 일본의 Hitachi에서 개발한 공통 데이터 모델이다. GPM은 추상 모델 성격의 GPM 핵심 모델과 핵심 모델의 기술을 위한 구현 언어 그리고 구현 언어로 작성된 참조 라이브러리로 구성되어 있다. GPM 핵심 모델은 객체들 사이의 의미가 부여된 관계 정의를 통하여 객체 의미 관계 네트워크 모델을 구성할 수 있는 특성이 있다. 초기의 GPM은 GPM 핵심 모델의 특성을 반영한 신택스의 GPML이라는 구현 언어를 개발하여 제공하였으나 원자력 플랜트 라이프 사이클동안 다양한 목적으로 GPM 데이터 모델에 접근하는 이기종 애플리케이션들과의 상호운용성을 위하여 XML을 기반으로 하는 GPM-XML로 교체되었다. 그러나 현재 GPM-XML을 사용하여 구축한 GPM 데이터 모델이 객체 의미 관계 네트워크 모델로서 활용되기 위한 GPM-XML 기반의 연구가 미비한 상태이다. 따라서 본 논문에서는 객체 의미 관계 네트워크와 유사한 성격의 온톨로지를 기술할 수 있으며 이를 지원하는 기술 표준 및 도구들이 이미 활용 가능한 수준에 있는 OWL을 GPM 핵심 모델을 위한 구현 언어로서 제안한다. OWL은 XML 기반의 RDF/XML 형식으로 기술될 수 있으므로 상호운용성 또한 보장받을 수 있다. 본 논문은 OWL의 세 가지 하위 언어 사양 중 추론기능을 완벽히 제공받을 수 있는 가운데 문법적 제약이 가장 덜 엄격한 OWL DL을 사용한다. 본 논문은 OWL DL을 GPM 핵심 모델의 구현 언어로서 사용하기 위하여 GPM과 OWL 두 모델 사이의 차이점을 도출한 후 이를 해소할 수 있는 방법을 제안하며 이 방법을 적용하여 GPML로 작성된 참조 라이브러리를 OWL DL 기반의 온톨로지로 변환하여 구축하는 방법을 기술한다. GPM(Generic Product Model) developed by Hitachi in Japan is a common data model to integrate and share life cycle data of nuclear power plants. GPM consists of GPM core model, an abstract model, implementation language for the model and reference library written in the language. GPM core model has a feature that it can construct a semantic network model consisting of relationships among objects. Initial GPM developed and provided GPML as an implementation language to support the feature of the core model, but afterwards the GPML was replaced by GPM-XML based on XML to achieve data interoperability with heterogeneous applications accessing a GPM data model. However, data models written in GPM-XML are insufficient to be used as a semantic network model for lack of studies which support GPM-XML and enable the models to be used as a semantic network model. This paper proposes OWL as the implementation language for GPM core model because OWL can describe ontologies similar to semantic network models and has an abundant supply of technical standards and supporting tools. Also, OWL which can be expressed in terms of RDF/XML based on XML guarantees data interoperability. This paper uses OWL DL, one of three sublanguages of OWL, because it can guarantee complete reasoning and the maximum expressiveness at the same time. The contents of this paper introduce the way how to overcome the difference between GPM and OWL DL, and, base on this way, describe how to convert the reference library written in GPML into ontologies based on OWL DL written in RDF/XML.

Recent development on product modelling: a review

Product modelling is a pivotal activity in product development (PD) processes. Well-defined product models organize product data, production information and knowledge to satisfy the requirements of the rapid changes of the PD environment. In this paper, a comprehensive review is carried out on the recent development of product modelling technology. Four types of product modelling methodologies are discussed in detail. Two object-oriented product modelling methods: STEP-based product modelling and UML-based product modelling are reviewed and compared. The research gaps and issues are identified. To implement the product modelling into current integrated manufacturing environment, a generic product modelling framework is proposed. The future research trend of product modelling is also discussed.

Towards a generic product modelling framework

In response to the current rapidly changing manufacturing environment, product modelling technology has been widely applied to provide the essential information for product development (PD) processes. The traditional product modelling technologies are unable to support the information exchange and share in various stages of PD processes that could be taken place among departments in a company or even among companies in distributed manufacturing environment. This has caused many problems such as information loss, data format incompatibility and reduced efficiency and effectiveness of product data applications. This has consequently created bottlenecks for the integration of PD processes. In this paper, a generic product modelling framework (GPMF) is proposed to overcome the abovementioned problems in today's manufacturing environment. This framework uses the standard for the exchange product model data (STEP) as a foundation. It consists of four functional components: an EXPRESS data model namely EDM; a STEP–based modelling environment; a “five-phase” modelling method; and three EDM data exchange and sharing methods. Case studies show that the product models built based on the GPMF are capable of integrating information in product design, manufacturing and assembly. The GPMF is compatible, comprehensive, and flexible, and is able to support information exchange and sharing.

A case study on STEP-enabled generic product modelling framework

This research proposes a STEP-enabled generic product modelling framework (GPMF) for efficient information exchange and sharing in support of rapid product development in a modern manufacturing environment. This framework consists of four functional components: an EXPRESS data model, namely EDM; a STEP–based modelling environment; a ‘five-phase’ modelling method; and three EDM data exchange and sharing methods. The focus of this research is placed on the modelling methodologies and the definition of schemas for various product development activities such as manufacturing, inspection, etc., and the integration of the schemas with other resources defined within STEP. There are 25 schemas defined to enable that the proposed GPMF is compatible and can be used in modelling various types of products. These aspects, to our best knowledge, are not studied extensively in the literature. The structure of framework will be discussed in the paper with the focus placed on the EDM as the core of the framework. Case studies are carried out to validate the proposed GPMF. Two products are chosen from different engineering disciplines. They are modelled into product models according to the GPMF. Each case utilizes one of the EDM data exchange and sharing methods and its corresponding software environment to obtain the product models that are presented as STEP Part 21 exchange files, STEP objects and a database object. A prototype system called product data management system (PDMS) is developed to test the GPMF. The case studies show that the product models built based on the GPMF are capable of integrating information in product design, manufacturing and assembly, and the GPMF is compatible, comprehensive and flexible.

Sharing product data of nuclear power plants across their lifecycles by utilizing a neutral model

Many public and private Korean organizations are involved during the lifecycle of a domestic nuclear power plant. Korea Plant Engineering Co. (KOPEC) participates in the design stage, Korea Hydraulic and Nuclear Power (KHNP) operates and manages all nuclear power plants in Korea, Doosan Heavy Industry and Construction Co. manufactures the main equipment, and a construction company constructs the plant. Even though each organization has its own digital data management system and obtains a certain level of automation, data sharing among organizations is poor. KHNP obtains drawings and technical specifications from KOPEC in the form of paper. This results in manual re-work of definitions, and errors can potentially occur in the process. In order to establish an information bridge between design and operation and maintenance (O&M) phases, a generic product model (GPM), a data model from Hitachi, is extended for constructing a neutral data warehouse and the Korean Nuclear Power Plant Information Sharing System (KNPISS) is implemented.

Integrated approach for disassembly processes generation and recycling evaluation of an end-of-life product

An integrated approach for noble recycling is presented that puts forward the functional value of products and components. In a first step, the approach determines all feasible automatic disassembly sequences and in a second step all applicable recycling activities. This allows one to determine the most appropriate recycling process for an end-of-life product considering concurrent recycling techniques. The feasible automatic disassembly sequences are established by simulation in a virtual environment. The required generic disassembly product model, as well as the generic disassembly activity model, is presented by means of static and dynamic object-oriented diagrams. The recycling evaluation establishes an efficient solution responding to economic and ecological decision criteria. It is calculated applying a Goal-Programming approach transforming the multi-objective linear problem into a monocriteria linear program. The techno-economic decision model applied is Linear Activity Analysis. It allows one to integrate the generated disassembly processes based on single disassembly activities as well as other recycling techniques.

Product modeling to support case-based construction planning and scheduling

Many human schedulers create schedules by reusing past similar schedules. The retrieval and reuse of similar schedules are subjective and experience-based. This paper explores different notions of similarity required when performing different scheduling tasks. It describes the CasePlan system that helps schedulers retrieve and reuse parts of existing schedules based on a generic product model, and apply case-based reasoning to generate new schedules. The validation experiment demonstrated CasePlan's accuracy in determining individual subnetworks and activity durations, but weak performance in determining interlinks between subnetworks, which highly depends upon the availability of pertinent cases and the level of detail of project information.

A little knowledge is a wondrous thing

Knowledge is defined and distinguished from data. In manufacturing, knowledge-based engineering (KBE) involves a generic product model consisting of a description of the components of a product or product range, the relationships between them, and rules. What gives it its unique character is the use of geometric rules and their association to enable the automatic generation and modification of CAD models. KBE capabilities may be embedded within a CAD package. This is the approach taken for ICAD by Knowledge Technologies International (KTI). Alternatively, KBE software can be linked to, or integrated with, CAD software. The article describes various uses of KBE in CAD, and its usefulness to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Assembly Planning in the Design of Flexible Assembly Systems

This paper addresses the problem of assembly planning in the design of Flexible Assembly Systems (FAS). A methodological approach for multi-product assembly planning is proposed. This approach consists of a representation model for families of products (referred to as generic product model - GPM), a representation model for multi-produt assembly plans and a method to generate the assembly plans for families of products. GPM is a hierarchical description of the structure of the products that compose a family where common and varying components and subsystems are identified.

Boiler Erection Scheduling Using Product Models and Case-Based Reasoning

Contractors who repeatedly construct facilities designed by copying major parts from one project to the next find that previously developed schedules associated with those designs could be reused to schedule new work. To facilitate such reuse, project characteristics must be articulated and associated schedules described to include not only traditional, numerical scheduling data, but also scheduling constraints. In addition, knowledge about how to reuse schedules must be available. The CasePlan system, presented here, supports and augments the scheduling activity of people who reason about cases—each case describing the design and schedule of a completed project—to generate new project schedules. Specifically, CasePlan reuses annotated cases to automatically schedule the erection of power plant boilers. Because such boilers have a more-or-less standardized design, a generic boiler product model can serve as the basis for assessing similarities between designs. On this basis CasePlan selects schedules for ...

Product modelling using step

Concurrent engineering has been recognized as a business philosophy and methodology for integrating all aspects of a product lifecycle into the stages of product design. It demands that, as product design decisions are made, they are immediately evaluated in terms of functionality, manufacturability, assemblability, maintainability and recyclability. This requires that the entire enterprise share a common product model at any stage of the product lifecycle. The paper describes in detail the development of a step-based generic product modelling (GPM) system which has been designed and implemented according to the integrated resources of step and supports a complete product information structure and standard data format. It can therefore be used to integrate a variety of manufacturing activities in a concurrent engineering environment. The GPM system consists of a generic product model, a product model database, a GPM/AutoSolid interface, a GPM/AutoCAD interface, and a user interface. The user can model products using built-in templates. Application systems can either be included in the GPM system, or interact with the GPM system through physical files in accordance with the step standard. Examples are included to illustrate the use of the system.

A generic building product model incorporating building type information

Building product models are presented as an integrated representation for use in translating information between current and future design applications. Using an information model developed for design applications, we specify a Generic Building Model that represents both the physical and abstract information necessary to model basic knowledge about buildings and architecture. The Generic Building Model and its subsidiary concepts are reviewed. We show how it can incorporate building type information, and include the needs of various activities for comparison against the constructed form. We illustrate the model's behavior by showing how it can be adapted to model information relevant to hospital design.

Layout Design of Large Made-To-Order Products Using a Knowledge-Based System

Work is described which is concerned with the application of knowledge-based and emergent-order programming techniques to conceptual layout problems in the field of large made-to-order products. The aim of this work has been to develop a prototype for computer aided design (CAD) tools that manipulate and analyse a product's topology, rather than its precise geometry. Features of the system include: working prototypes of a generic layout-oriented product model database schema and a layout design process. A knowledge-based system is used to advise the designer on optimal layout strategies and then, after layouts have been generated, to provide advice and assistance in the selection of the final layout.