Using PLM and trade-off curves to support set-based convergence of product platforms
Year: 2013
Editor: Udo Lindemann, Srinivasan V, Yong Se Kim, Sang Won Lee, John Clarkson, Gaetano Cascini
Author: Levandowski, Christoffer; Forslund, Anders; Johannesson, Hans
Series: ICED
Institution: Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
Page(s): 199-208
ISBN: 978-1-904670-47-6
ISSN: 2220-4334
Abstract
Platforms may be used as an enabler for offering a variety of products to the market, while keeping the development cost down. Reusing design knowledge is a key concept of platforms, whether concerning reusing parts, ideas, concepts or technologies. In set-based design, trade-off and limit curves are an enabler to store knowledge about technologies developed earlier, and to highlight knowledge-and technology gaps. This paper describes how trade-off curves derived from technology development may be used to incorporate technology knowledge in a product platform. The product used as an example is a Turbine Rear Structure of a jet engine. Trade-off curves and a product platform based on the Configurable Component concept is implemented in a PLM architecture, integrating a Product Data Management system, a Computer Aided Design tool, two Computer Aided Engineering tools and a configurator. The analysis combines the trade-off and limit curves with CAE tools to create a comprehensive analysis of the set of possible solutions. The results are presented to the engineer as a means to aid in the convergence process through elimination of bad solutions from the set.
Keywords: Product families, product lifecycle management, lean, set-based design, technology platforms