| 1. |
- Heikkinen, Tim
(författare)
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Extended product models supporting multidisciplinary design automation
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Manufacturing organizations often pursue the ability to efficiently and effectively provide custom products for its competitive advantage. Research has shown product configuration to be an effective way of achieving this goal through a modularization, product platform, and product family development approach. A core assumption behind this approach is that the module variants and their constraints are explicitly pre-defined as product knowledge. This is not always the case, however. Many companies require extensive engineering to develop each module variant but cannot afford to do so proactively to meet potential customer requirements within a predictable future. Instead, they attempt to implicitly define the module variants in terms of the process in which they can be realized. In this way, manufacturing companies develop module variants on demand efficiently and effectively when customer requirements are better defined, as justified by the increased probability of profiting from the outcome.Design automation (DA), in its broadest definition, refers to computerized engineering support that efficiently and effectively utilizes pre-planned reusable assets to progress a design process. The literature has reported several successful implementations of DA, but especially widespread higher levels of automation are yet to be seen. One DA approach involves the explicit representation of engineering process and product knowledge in the engineers preferred formats, such as computer scripts, parametric geometry models, and template spreadsheets. These design assets are developed using various computer tools, maintained within the different disciplines involved, such as design, simulation, or manufacturing, and are dependent on each other through the product model. To implement, utilize, and manage DA systems in or across multiple disciplines, it is important to understand how the disciplinary design assets depend on each other throughout the product model and how these relations should be constructed to support users without negatively affecting other aspects, such as modeling flexibility, system transparency, and software tool independence.To support the successful implementation and management of DA systems, this work focuses on understanding how digital product model constituents are, can, and, to some extent, should be extended to concretize relations toward and between design assets from different tools and disciplines. This research consists of interviews with Swedish industrial companies, technical reviews, literature reviews, and prototype developments, resulting in an increased understanding and the consequent development of a framework that highlights aspects regarding the choice and development of extension techniques.
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| 2. |
- Malvius, Diana, 1974-
(författare)
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Integrated information management in complex product development
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Where do companies begin their efforts when trying to improve information management in product development? In large companies involving many people, multiple processes and highly technological products several factors have an impact on efficiency. Interdisciplinary integration and structured information are two overall proposed key factors that have been identified as important to obtain efficient information management. Measurement of satisfaction level among information systems users is proposed as an angle of approach to identify key improvement areas from an operative perspective that are argued to be strategic for management to address. However, the need for adjustments to contextual prerequisites and a changing environment makes evaluation necessary prior to measurement. An evaluation framework is proposed to identify metrics that are tailored and kept in line with business and development strategies to ensure their relevancy. This research has aimed at taking a holistic approach to information management in complex product development. The research focus has been on the integration between engineering disciplines where software and electrical R&D departments at automotive companies have been the main source of the analysis material. Integrated information management entails support for activities within the engineering domain. Several strategies are discussed to manage trade-offs in organizations in order to succeed with integrated information management. A needs-based balance is one important approach proposed to resolve changing and conflicting needs. Furthermore, it is argued that operative and strategic goals should be allowed to co-exist. Providing the right infrastructure to support designers in their everyday work does not necessarily mean additional functionality to existing information systems or automated work activities by improved document templates. Rather, it is suggested that a shift in focus (from addressing detailed requirements management to reflecting on interrelationships between information objects and system inter-dependencies) would be a strong mechanism to succeed with information management. The transition into model-based development is argued to be a much needed change for organizations to obtain integrated information management, since a model-based approach is considered an important basis for structured information. Anticipated benefits with integrated information management are increased information availability, reduced information overflow, and enhanced communication and understanding of critical system dependencies
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| 3. |
- Svensson Harari, Natalia
(författare)
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WORKING PROCEDURES IN DESIGN PROCESSES TO ACHIEVE FLEXIBLE ASSEMBLY SYSTEMS
- 2020
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Designing is becoming increasingly complex. Manufacturers strive achieving flexible assembly systems that can easily accommodate diverse product offerings while transitioning towards new (radical) products, integrating new manufacturing technologies and providing specific customer solutions. However, designing flexibility is a challenge. There are several flexibility dimensions and perspectives as well as a need for design support to achieve it in a long term. A design process concerns the way of working (how) to generate an assembly system solution before its realisation. Thus, it is crucial to establish preconditions for the development of assembly systems. A single design process does not fit all the design problems, so already during the design process, changes in assembly systems by means of flexibility should be further investigated. The purpose of the research is to increase knowledge on how to achieve flexible assembly systems through design processes with the objective to contribute to the development of working procedures to support design processes of flexible assembly systems. Factors involved in the design process of flexible assembly systems and their influence in the design process to achieve flexible assembly systems have been studied based on literature reviews and five case studies conducted in the manufacturing industry of heavy vehicles. The thesis is based on six appended papers. A framework has been developed which integrates the findings of the research. It highlights the need of working in early phases of technology development to address timely changes and adaptations in both products and assembly systems designs. Thus, showing the importance of involving different processes as well as roles and functions within an organisation. Furthermore, it shed lights on activities that could facilitate the design process of flexible assembly systems in a long term. These working procedures are meant to support those involved in the design process of flexible assembly systems.
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