Product Lifecycle Management Systems Research Articles

Establishment of critical success factors for implementation of product lifecycle management systems

The present study has been undertaken with the purpose of investigating the critical success factors for the implementation of product lifecycle management (PLM) systems in manufacturing companies. Two exploratory case-based studies were conducted followed by a generalised study to establish the critical success factors for PLM systems’ implementation in manufacturing firms. Hybrid multi-criteria decision-making methods were employed to identify the causal factors and prioritise them for the implementation of PLM systems in an automotive and aerospace firm. The priority of the factors has also been confirmed by executives from broader PLM domain through a confirmatory t-test. The identified critical success factors can be utilised as directive guidelines by manufacturing organisations for the successful implementation of PLM systems. Most researchers have studied only the technological aspects of PLM, while very few have discussed the success factors to PLM implementation. The present study is highlighting PLM as a management concept, supporting PLM systems implementation in organisations, and discussing the critical success factors for effective PLM systems implementation.

Knowledge-Based Manufacturing: Management and Deployment of Manufacturing Rules through Product Lifecycle Management Systems

In manufacturing companies, computer-aided design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) feature-based approaches have been developed for faster numerical control (NC) programming. They allow to automatically generate toolpath, recognizing both standard and custom machining features, and defining for each of them the best or preferred machining process based on predefined rules. The definition of Feature Based Manufacturing (FBM) rules requires advanced competences and skills; furthermore, the standardization required by these instruments is too rigorous for real machining practices. It is therefore necessary to extend the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environment in order to be able to make explicit and manage manufacturing rules based on industrial best practice. The paper addresses these problems presenting a possible solution to optimize FBM information management and integration within the product lifecycle. A data model extension, covering new items such as “manufacturing rules” and “tool setting preferences”, and a new methodology for rules management and deployment are proposed.

Professional skills in the Product Development Process: the contribution of learning environments to professional skills in the Industry 4.0 scenario

The Industry 4.0 scenario has raised many challenges for industries. The introduction of new technologies in production and products allows shorter product lifecycles, highly customization of products, and lower development and production costs. Such phenomena generate large amounts of data throughout the product lifecycle, which can be integrated and managed by Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems. However, to be competitive in this environment and to cope with these challenges, companies must be able not only to manage effectively their product information over the entire product lifecycle but also to count on highly skilled professionals to do so. The new trends originated from the Industry 4.0 paradigm have changed the design and development scenario, as well as the sets of skills required from professionals. Therefore, product engineers, as well as engineering students in universities, should develop new skills and meet these new market requirements. One alternative to preparing new professionals is through learning environments in cooperation with universities. These learning environments, also called learning factories to enable the transference of knowledge on processes and methods to students through the introduction of a factory concept in the academic environment, in which students can apply the acquired theoretical knowledge in real industry situations. In such a context, a Learning Factory (LF) testbed supporting the product development process in a PLM environment was developed and implemented. This paper aims to present the LF for the product development process implemented in a Brazilian university; how it contributes to the qualification of product development professionals in the Industry 4.0 scenario; its limitations and the future perspectives to meet the demand for new skills.

The emergent structures in digital engineering work: what can we learn from dynamic DSMs of near-identical systems design projects?

Design structure matrices (DSMs) are widely known for their ability to support engineers in the management of dependencies across product and organisational architectures. Recent work in the field has exploited product lifecycle management systems to generate DSMs via the co-occurrence of edits to engineering files. These are referred to as dynamic DSMs and results have demonstrated both the efficacy and accuracy of dynamic DSMs in representing engineering work and emergent product architectures. The wide-ranging applicability of the theoretical model and associated analytical process to generate dynamic DSMs enables investigations into the evolving structures within digital engineering work. This paper uses this new capability and presents the results of the world’s first comparison of dynamic DSMs from a set of near-identical systems design projects. Through comparison of the dynamic DSMs’ end-of-project state, change propagation characteristics and evolutionary behaviour, 10 emergent structures are elicited. These emergent structures are considered in the context of team performance and design intent in order to explain and code the identified structures. The significance of these structures for the management of future systems design projects in terms of productivity and efficacy is also described.

Identification of barriers to PLM institutionalization in large manufacturing organizations

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the barriers to institutionalize the product lifecycle management (PLM) in large manufacturing organizations. The paper explores the hurdles and identifies the causal barriers to support the organizations’ transformation into digitized firms. Design/methodology/approach The paper utilized the multi-criteria decision making technique, i.e., DEMATEL (DEcision MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) method to find the causal barriers, and adopted maximum mean de-entropy (MMDE) algorithm to determine the threshold value based on the information entropy of the relations among the barriers to PLM institutionalization. Findings This study explored nine barriers to PLM institutionalization and empirically identified the four critical barriers among the nine. Research limitations/implications The present work is exploratory case-based research which is limited to a case of an Indian aircraft manufacturing firm with a limited number of respondents. More sophisticated statistical tools can be utilized to consider the subjectivity of the respondents. However, this research explores the various hurdles to PLM success and serves as a relevant outcome to identify the critical barriers to institutionalize the PLM concept. Practical implications The findings of the paper provide guidelines to the case company and similar firms for obtaining maximum benefits of PLM. The methodology shown in this paper will be useful to various large scale industries in identifying the critical barriers to PLM institutionalization among all existing barriers so that they can take appropriate measures before they proceed to adopt PLM. Originality/value The present work discusses the different reasons for which the companies are not able to derive the maximum benefits of PLM even after the implementation of PLM systems. This work uniquely applied the DEMATEL and MMDE methods to investigate the critical barriers to PLM institutionalization in an aircraft manufacturing firm.

Sharing Knowledge When it Cannot be Made Explicit

Information systems often strengthen a preference for working alone: interoperability as much as interpretation variance restrain the ability of people and systems to interact and to work together within an extended enterprise. In this article, the authors propose to extend product lifecycle management (PLM) systems in order to share not only (1) knowledge that has been made explicit and which is strongly contextualized so that there is no interpretation variance, but also (2) knowledge that cannot be made explicit and which remains tacit knowledge, needing social interaction and shared understanding to be actually shared. The use of a collaborative platform is proposed in this article in order to allow stakeholders to produce a shared understanding of what a concept means through the use of ontologies. The conditions as well as the limits of the proposition are discussed at the end of this article.

Product Lifecycle Management as Data Repository for Manufacturing Problem Solving.

Fault diagnosis presents a considerable difficulty to human operators in supervisory control of manufacturing systems. Implementing Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in existing manufacturing facilities implies an investment, since it requires upgrading them with sensors, connectivity capabilities, and IoT software platforms. Aligned with the technological vision of Industry 4.0 and based on currently existing information databases in the industry, this work proposes a lower-investment alternative solution for fault diagnosis and problem solving. This paper presents the details of the information and communication models of an application prototype oriented to production. It aims at assisting shop-floor actors during a Manufacturing Problem Solving (MPS) process. It captures and shares knowledge, taking existing Process Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (PFMEA) documents as an initial source of information related to potential manufacturing problems. It uses a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system as source of manufacturing context information related to the problems under investigation and integrates Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) technology to provide information about similar manufacturing problems.

The Product Service System Lean Design Methodology (PSSLDM)

Purpose Nowadays manufacturers companies are increasingly compelled to navigate towards servitization. Different methods and approaches were proposed in literature to support them to switch from traditional product-based business model to product service systems (PSSs). However, new knowledge, capabilities and skills were needed to consistently develop PSSs, since they need a joint focus on both customer’s perspective and company’s internal performance and at the same time a proper support for the integration of product and service design. The purpose of this paper is to propose the Product Service System Lean Design Methodology (PSSLDM), a structured methodology to develop PSSs along their entire lifecycle. Design/methodology/approach Retrieving concepts from interpretative, interactive and system development research traditions, and strongly reminding the design research methodology framework, the adopted research methodology is composed of three main phases (observation and conceptualization, theory building and tool development, validation) and involved three heterogeneous companies. Findings This paper provides an overview of the PSSLDM, explaining how the different methods supporting its conduction should contribute to properly design an integrated PSS. Moreover, companies highlighted several benefits in the different stages along the PSS lifecycle deriving by the adoption of the PSSLDM. Research limitations/implications The development of a platform based on the PSSLDM methodology raises a discussion on the possible changes needed by current Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) models and systems when they have to do with PSSs. Originality/value The PSSLDM enriches the already proposed SErvice Engineering Methodology, introducing new several components linked by lean rules in each of its phases (starting from customer analysis, going through solution concept and detailed design, until the offering analysis) and better supprting the deatil design of both prodcut and service components.

Integration of Realistic Computer Graphics into Computer-Aided Design and Product Lifecycle Management Systems

Various approaches to the integration of realistic image rendering and lighting simulation into computer-aided design systems are considered. An approach that ensures the effective integration of existing realistic image rendering systems into a CAD system is proposed. This approach makes it possible to utilize ready-to-use modules of a realistic image generation system, including the computation kernel and user interface modules. Synchronization of the executable modules of the basic and embedded systems is described. The proposed approaches and solutions were implemented in a project of integrating the lighting simulation and realistic image generation system Inspirer2 with the CAD CATIA.

Maintaining the Design Intent in the Synthesis of 3-D and 1-D System Models Using Constraints

Systems design consists of both geometry-based three-dimensional (3-D) and energy-based one-dimensional (1-D) models. Automatically synthesizing 1-D and 3-D models from the same specification is useful because it saves time and eliminates errors. State-of-the-art synthesis algorithms use a one-to-one mapping of 3-D to 1-D artifacts and therefore only cover the geometric aspects of the design. In this paper, we propose an approach where constraints are abstracted to the functional level and integrated with the functional models, thus providing for efficient 3-D to 1-D mapping and allowing for 1-D to 3-D mapping. Additionally, we present our work in the context of product lifecycle management systems and demonstrate the novel capabilities of our software using a real-world satellite and excavator design examples.

A Gap Analysis Methodology for Product Lifecycle Management Assessment

Product lifecycle management (PLM) is a strategic and holistic approach for the management of information, processes, and resources supporting the entire product lifecycle from concept to disposal. Several systems are available to manage data and information during the lifecycle. A PLM system does not have to be considered as a unique solution, but as a set of software supporting different perspectives and activities related to the lifecycle management. A full comprehensive implementation of PLM systems is rare. Since PLM reflects the peculiarities of processes and data structures, implementation differences are evidently observable among companies. The design of methods and tools supporting an assessment of PLM implementation inside a company can enable a correct definition of PLM strategies and goals. Based on these premises, the paper aims to specify a methodology for carrying out a gap analysis of PLM with the scope of discovering existing technological and methodological gaps, and planning actions for improvement. The proposed methodology implements a visual and lean reference model, and an assessment questionnaire for data collection. Lesson learned and feedback from three industrial applications are also described and discussed.

Product lifecycle management with provenance management and virtual models: an industrial use-case study

Saving and managing virtual models’ provenance information (models’ history) can increase the level of reusability of those models. This paper describes a provenance management system (PMS) that has been developed based on an industrial case study.The product lifecycle management (PLM) system, as a main data management system, is responsible for receiving virtual models and their related data from Computer-Aided technologies (CAx) and providing this information for the PMS. In this paper, the management of discrete event simulation data with the PLM system will be demonstrated as the first link of provenance data management chain (CAx-PLM-PMS).

Integration of Realistic Computer Graphics into Computer-Aided Design and Product Lifecycle Management Systems

Integration of Realistic Computer Graphics into Computer-Aided Design and Product Lifecycle Management Systems

Multi-level management of discrete event simulation models in a product lifecycle management framework

Discrete event simulation (DES) models imitates the behavior of a production system. Models can be developed to reflect different levels of the production system, e.g supply chain level or manufacturing line level. Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems have been developed in order to manage product and manufacturing related data. DES models is one kind of product lifecycle’s data which can be managed by a PLM system. This paper presents a method and its implementation for management of interacting multi-level models utilizing a PLM system.

Using design rules to guide the PSS design in an engineering platform based on the product service lifecycle management paradigm

Nowadays, product service systems (PSSs) and smart products are surging in the market and acquiring a strategic role for companies' survival. Manufacturers, compelled towards the transformation process into PSS providers, have to face the challenge of building up knowledge for successfully providing such complex solutions, also resorting to the help of more effective IT systems and tools. The need to adopt a collaborative design platform is starting to be raised also in the PSS context, since companies often have a lack of knowledge for providing PSS. This work, grounded on a combination of lean and DfX-based theories, is aimed at improving the knowledge formalisation and sharing with the support of IT tools. In this sense, the lean design rules tool (LDRT), able to manage the PSS design knowledge generated is proposed and integrated in a more holistic engineering environment able to interact with product lifecycle management (PLM) systems.

Using design rules to guide the PSS design in an Engineering Platform based on the Product Service Lifecycle Management (PSLM) paradigm

Nowadays, product service systems (PSSs) and smart products are surging in the market and acquiring a strategic role for companies’ survival. Manufacturers, compelled towards the transformation process into PSS providers, have to face the challenge of building up knowledge for successfully providing such complex solutions, also resorting to the help of more effective IT systems and tools. The need to adopt a collaborative design platform is starting to be raised also in the PSS context, since companies often have a lack of knowledge for providing PSS. This work, grounded on a combination of lean and DfX-based theories, is aimed at improving the knowledge formalisation and sharing with the support of IT tools. In this sense, the lean design rules tool (LDRT), able to manage the PSS design knowledge generated is proposed and integrated in a more holistic engineering environment able to interact with product lifecycle management (PLM) systems.

Hybrid state transactional database for product lifecycle management features in a multi-engineer synchronous heterogeneous CAD environment

ABSTRACTAs interoperability between Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems becomes a possibility, a need arises for a way for the Neutral Parametric Canonical Form (NPCF), as designed at the BYU Site of the NSF Center for e-Design, to be integrated with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). The only method currently available to users to sync with a PLM system at this time would be to choose one CAD system and create files based off of the NPCF data then save those part files in the PLM system. This database expansion to the NPCF allows the NPCF to hold the entire part history as well as enable future work revision history and configuration management. Enforcing referential integrity within the database allows for part data to never get corrupted and the NPCF allows any CAD system with the appropriate plug-ins to read the uncorrupted data.

Methods for automated semantic definition of manufacturing structures (mBOM) in mechanical engineering companies

The bill of materials (BOM), which involves all parts and assemblies of the product, is the core of any mechanical or electronic product. The flexible and integrated management of engineering (Engineering Bill of Materials [eBOM]) and manufacturing (Manufacturing Bill of Materials [mBOM]) structures is the key to the creation of modern products in mechanical engineering companies. This paper presents a method framework for the creation and control of e- and, especially, mBOM. The requirements, resulting from the process of differentiation between companies that produce serialized or engineered-to-order products, are considered in the analysis phase. The main part of the paper describes different approaches to fully or partly automated creation of mBOM. The first approach is the definition of part selection rules in the generic mBOM templates. The mBOM can be derived from the eBOM for partly standardized products by using this method. Another approach is the simultaneous use of semantic rules, options, and parameters in both structures. The implementation of the method framework (selection of use cases) in a standard product lifecycle management (PLM) system is part of the research.

On the integration of model-based feature information in Product Lifecycle Management systems

As CAD models continue to become more critical information sources in the product’s lifecycle, it is necessary to develop efficient mechanisms to store, retrieve, and manage larger volumes of increasingly complex data. Because of their unique characteristics, 3D annotations can be used to embed design and manufacturing information directly into a CAD model, which makes models effective vehicles to describe aspects of the geometry or provide additional information that can be connected to a particular geometric element. However, access to this information is often limited, difficult, and even unavailable to external applications. As model complexity and volume of information continue to increase, new and more powerful methods to interrogate these annotations are needed.In this paper, we demonstrate how 3D annotations can be effectively structured and integrated into a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system to provide a cohesive view of product-related information in a design environment. We present a strategy to organize and manage annotation information which is stored internally in a CAD model, and make it fully available through the PLM. Our method involves a dual representation of 3D annotations with enhanced data structures that provides shared and easy access to the information. We describe the architecture of a system which includes a software component for the CAD environment and a module that integrates with the PLM server. We validate our approach through a software prototype that uses a parametric modeling application and two commercial PLM packages with distinct data models.

Effects of product lifecycle management systems on new product development performance

Abstract To examine the effects of product life cycle management (PLM) systems on new product development (NPD) performance, the study developed a conceptual model linking firms’ ability to diffuse and routinize PLM systems in NPD processes (called “PLM system capability”) with process management, coordination, and absorptive capabilities. The study assumed that the selected management capabilities mediate the effects of PLM system capability on NPD performance. The empirical results supported the theorized relationships, indicating that PLM system capability shapes firms’ capabilities for NPD process management, partner coordination, and knowledge absorption, which subsequently affect NPD performance. Therefore, in order to improve NPD performance, managers must create conditions conducive for implementing PLM systems to enhance NPD-required management capabilities.