Developing an agent-based PDM/ERP collaboration system

Among the well-known enterprise application software modules, product data management (PDM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) have played major roles in the design and production departments respectively. Among those, PDM helps design engineers to manage the product data and product development process, and ERP acts as the main tool for order, production and inventory related processes. There are a few duplicated functions among these systems such as BOM management. However, very few works addressed building a bridge among the systems. On the other hand, an agent-based approach has been applied in the collaboration of shop floor equipment for some time. Basically, each agent acts like a machine controller that can take charge of the respective equipment and communicate with other agents as well. This research applies similar concepts to bridge the gaps between PDM and ERP systems and to support the collaboration activities of the two systems. A three-stage framework was proposed to develop the agent-based collaboration system. In the concept stage, the modelling tools such as VAD and eEPC were used to capture collaboration requirements between PDM and ERP. In the design stage, a UML-based analysing method MaSE was used to develop the agent-based system. Also, an agent development tool ZEUS was used to generate agent code. Finally, in the implementation stage, a PDM/ERP collaboration system was developed to support the designer in making decisions about the replacement parts requirement analysis.     

并行设计及其支持环境

以PDM为框架,建立了支持产品并行设计的并行工程体系结构,通过分析设计活动的组成,提出了面向产品全生命周期的数字化信息模型和基于STEP的CAx信息集成模式,定义了结构扁平的集成产品开发矩阵组织模式,以有效支持产品开发队伍的重构,探讨了信息分层共享的合理模式,集成了分布于不同硬件平台的CAx/DFx工具,最后建立了支持并行设计微循环与预发布的过程管理模型,研究了并行化产品开发的过程控制与管理技术。     

Challenges of manufacturability and product data management in bending

Effective production in a networking environment of sheet metal products needs accurate and relevant PDM (product data management) data, appropriate modeling of components supported by local and global network solutions, and utilization of advantages of feature-based modeling. To enable these aspects of effective production in sheet metal production, it is necessary to evaluate the integration of DFMA (design for manufacturing and assembly) and PDM. This paper aims at identifying the challenges of DFMA and PDM integration through recognizing possible malfunctioning parts of their integration. The observations are based on sheet metal specimens in which the DFMA and PDM aspects are visible in punching and bending. This study will focus on five issues that are included either in DFMA or PDM, or both: the effects of different calculation methods for the flattened length, utilization viewpoints of global or local manufacturability guidelines, assembly conditions, options to tune the manufacturing process instead of changing the product geometry, and possible additional requirements given by the customers. Based on practical design and manufacturing tests, it has become evident that one option to improve the quality of analyzed sheet metal parts is to further develop the integration of DFMA features with the workshop’s cutting and punching parameters. As one possible improvement to these kinds of integration tasks of DFMA and PDM, it is suggested that the responsibilities for developing DMFA and PDM applications with proper design parameters could be analyzed more deeply between persons working with information exchange, product design, software design, or production machine design.     

与PDM集成的协同环境中数据安全模型的研究

提出了一种新的与PDM集成的协同设计环境中的产品数据安全模型.该安全模型通过用户登录模块、用户管理模块、访问控制管理模块、协同冲突机制模块、审计日志模块等来解决与PDM集成的协同设计环境中的产品数据的安全问题,并在此基础上引入了数据加/解密技术.研究结果表明,该模型可以有效地应用于与PDM集成的协同设计环境中,解决产品数据在设计过程中的安全问题.     

产品数据管理和工作流管理的集成

面对日趋激烈的商业竞争环境,如何缩短产品研发和制造周期,尽快地将其投放市场,人们需要的是更加综合化、集成化的战略解决方案。产品数据管理（PDM）和工作流管理（WFM）作为两大管理技术,在目前世界上已相当热门且得到了飞速发展和应用。本文在此基础上研究了产品数据管理工作流管理的集成,并提出了一种服务于产品整个生命周期的产品数据支持的哲理。     

基于产品数据管理系统的设计制造信息集成

分析了基于产品数据管理的设计制造系统的信息集成模式,以统一产品信息模型为基础设计了基于PDM的CAD和CAPP系统的集成框架,并对实现该框架所涉及的关键技术与实现方法进行了深入研究。介绍了结合具体应用对通过商业软件Teamcenter实现CAD和CAPP之间的设计制造信息集成所进行的实践,为异构应用系统之间的信息集成提供了一种方法。     

汽车车身开发数据管理技术的研究与应用

提出了基于PDM的车身开发并行设计系统集成框架，建立了集成环境的总体结构、软硬件配置以及PDM与CAX之间的集成模式，开发了车身产品数据库和车身开发产品数据管理系统主要功能模块。实际应用表明，该系统能够有效地支持车身开发并行设计系统的集成，对我国汽车车身及零部件企业实施产品开发并行工程，提高产品开发水平具有参考意义。     

基于集成一体化的ERP供应链管理系统

通过CAD／PDM／CAPP／ERP的集成，把企业前端的设计、工艺数据传递到ERP系统，实现设计、工艺、计划、供应的数据共享，建立起集成一体化的ERP管理平台，以缩短产品生产周期，降低生产成本。     

基于PDM的绿色生产过程控制技术研究

以改进后的产品数据管理为信息集成平台, 把基于产品数据管理(PDM)的过程控制理论应用于车间生产,从绿色制造的角度对生产过程进行优化,建立了基于产品数据管理的绿色生产过程控制模型及绿色元过程模型。对产品数据管理的数据库和知识库进行了改进,改进后的PDM数据库管理系统将CAD和资源环境信息集成起来,更好地体现了数据和过程的绿色属性,为绿色生产过程控制提供了有效的数据支撑。      

并行化产品设计中概念设计的产品信息管理技术研究

概念设计是产品设计过程中的一个重要环节 ,为了实现并行化产品设计 ,有必要将概念设计阶段的产品信息管理纳入到基于产品数据管理系统的并行化产品设计环境中。本文首先分析了对概念设计产品信息进行管理的意义及现有的商品化 PDM系统对其支持能力的不足之处 ,探讨了以产品结构树为中心的产品信息管理方式 ,并提出了采用这种管理方式对概念设计阶段产品信息进行管理所需要解决的一些关键问题及其解决方法 ,初步构造了一个可行的并行化概念设计的产品信息管理模式。     

The point of PDM [product data management]

Manufacturing industry's success in reforming itself has exposed an underlying factor limiting further significant gains in competitive performance; the effective management of product data. The growth of computer-based systems has led to the existence of a large amount of product definition data, stored in various locations and formats. To achieve the proper management of these data, product data management (PDM) has evolved. The authors discuss the aims and benefits of PDM     

汽车车身开发产品数据管理系统的研究与应用

为提高车身开发效率,缩短开发周期,将产品数据管理技术应用于车身开发过程。首先构建了面向网络、分布开发环境下的集成于车身开发过程的产品数据管理系统的总体结构和实现环境,在Oracle8i数据库系统的支持下,实现了系统中的主要功能模块,并成功应用于某汽车制造企业轻型卡车车身开发项目的管理。该系统能有效地管理车身开发中的产品数据,提高了车身开发的效率,支持车身开发的并行工程。     

集团级分布式产品数据管理系统的研究与实现

针对集团级分布式产品数据管理系统的需求,结合国产AVIDM 3．0系统,研究了大型高端产品数据管理系统的体系结构设计方法及实现技术,提出了一种基于域的分布式联邦产品数据管理系统架构及基于产品数据管理中间件软件平台的分层域内软件框架。该架构支持集中和分布两种部署模式,以满足大型集团松散耦合的层次组织关系及Down—to—top,Top—to—down,同级异地协同等信息交流的需求。基于项目的设计库、受控库、产品库和系统库概念,提出了电子文件的逻辑和物理全分布、项目级数据库全分布的产品数据存储方案,可满足海量数据存储要求。这些方法提供了一个从数据存储到应用服务全分布的解决方案,适用于支持大型复杂产品研制过程数据管理的高端产品数据管理系统的研制与开发。     

基于PDM的产品信息模型研究

为了实现异构产品数据管理(PDM)系统间的信息集成,面向不同的应用系统集成提供了全局一致的数据模型STEP/PDM-schema,研究了STEP/PDMschema的产品信息模型的组织模式,分析了建立产品信息模型的方法,实现了建立在产品结构信息模型基础上的产品信息管理。研究结果表明,该产品信息模型能解决不同PDM系统的信息集成问题。     

基于产品结构工作流的PDM与ERP集成

产品数据管理信息和企业资源管理信息构成了企业全局信息的两大组成部分，为了满足企业全局信息化的需要，必须有机集成PDM系统和ERP系统，充分发挥二者的作用，促使整个企业各部门协调工作，保持企业的竞争能力。从分析PDM和ERP的差别和PDM与ERP集成的困难所在着手，提出了以产品BOM为基础，来实现基于产品结构工作流的PDM与ERP集成。根据产品全生命周期的要求，逐步完成从设计、生产到销售的信息集成、功能集成和过程集成，就可以实现企业集成目标。     

基于PDM的工艺管理研究

工艺是连接产品设计与制造的桥梁，是实现产品信息集成与管理的关键。在研究工艺设计及工艺信息管理的基础上，分析了工艺管理的功能需求，建立了面向产品全生命周期集成的工艺信息模型，提出了基于PDM的两级工艺管理方案，有效地简化了CAPP系统的设计，有利于真正实现CAD、CAPP、CAM、PDM、ERP的全面集成。     

如何实现PDM系统中的产品结构树

产品数据管理(PDM)系统能够发挥并行设计模式的优点。实施PDM技术的关键是实现产品的产品结构与配置管理。通过对产品结构及配置的管理,采用合适的编码技术,创建产品零件结构树,实现对产品零部件的管理和操作。从而为后续ERP等系统提供完整可靠的支持。     

基于知识管理的汽车制动系统设计平台的设计与实现

在产品创新设计中设计流程协同、企业经验知识的发掘与应用、专家知识的组织和应用一直是困扰制造业企业创新设计的难题。通过分析制造业企业的知识管理规律,设计了知识管理平台进行知识的协调管理,基于该平台构建了面向产品设计的专家系统。重点研究了基于W eb的图形共享技术的研究、基于产品特征参量的PDM系统设计、面向设计流程的知识自组织型专家系统的设计与实现等难题,并通过B/S模式开发了系统软件,为汽车制动系统创新设计提供了全面的解决方案,提高了企业创新设计的能力。     

Development of an authoring framework for the simplified customization of PDM systems

Given that the amount of product data in firms is explosively increasing, a PDM system for effective data management is considered indispensable for product development. However, considerable time and specialized human resources are needed to customize a generic PDM system for satisfying the specific requirements of individual firms. To overcome this problem, we propose the use of UML object models in a PDM authoring framework. A PDM authoring framework, which provides authoring functions for the effective customization of PDM systems, will reduce the need for the intervention of PDM specialists in the design of the object models of the PDM system. We describe how a PDM authoring framework may be designed by using UML object models, and show how model-oriented application development (MOAD), in conjunction with the PDM authoring framework, can be used to build object models into a PDM system. Furthermore, we confirm the value of the framework by evaluating its performance under several conditions. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Dae-Eun Kim Inho Song is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, USA. He received the Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea in 2007. From 2002 to 2007, he served as a CAx team leader of the INOPS Company (CIES R&D Center), Seoul, Korea. He has developed the sketch-based CAD system for an automotive company. His research interests include collaborative design, sketch-based CAD, geometry translation, geometry compression, product data exchange, PDM/PLM, digital manufacturing, and virtual reality. Jeongsam Yang is an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial & Information Systems Engineering and is leading the CAD laboratory() at Ajou University. He worked at Clausthal University of Technology (Germany) as a visiting researcher and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) as a postdoctoral associate. He obtained his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in 2004 at KAIST. His current research interests are product data quality (PDQ), VR application in product design, product data management (PDM), knowledge-based design system, and STEP. Peom Park is a professor in the Department of Industrial & Information Systems Engineering and is leading the Human Technology Research Center and Human Factors/HCI laboratory () at Ajou University. He worked on HCI and Telecommunication system at ETRI as a senior researcher. He obtained his Ph.D. in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering at Iowa State University on 1992. His current research interests are uT applications, u-Healthcare/Telemedicine, Telematics and Ergonomic/Safety Design.     

Failure evaluation and the establishment of an improvement model for product data management introduced to enterprises

The efficient control of correct and consistent production information is becoming increasingly difficult due to keener global competition and shortening product life cycles. Total e-business is a solution to the urgent requirement for management and organization changes. Product data management (PDM) is an excellent strategy to introduce e-process and personnel reorganization. However, the performance of introducing the PDM system is usually unsatisfying, due to the impact upon personnel and the product flow. An approach of assessing personnel organization and process failure is proposed in this research in order to locate the factors and reasons that cause a failure for a critical decision reference of enterprises planning for the PDM structure and the product flow. A traditional enterprise that introduced the PDM system was taken as an example in this article to explain the application of the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and quality function deployment (QFD) for an efficient introduction of the PDM system.