A Process-Oriented Approach for Management of Product Configuration Models

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir Mesihovic ◽  
Johan Malmqvist
Keyword(s):  
Product Configuration ◽  
Configuration Model ◽  
Product Configuration Management ◽  
Industrial Companies ◽  
Process Oriented ◽  
Configuration Systems ◽  
Process Context ◽  
Product Configuration Model ◽  
The Right ◽  
Oriented Approach

Efficient product configuration systems have been widely recognized by industrial companies as an important tool for meeting increasing customer requirements for specifically adapted products according to their needs/requirements. The main obstacle in this area has been the long-term maintenance of the product configuration models with the new product definition information generated throughout the product lifecycle. Much of the work in this area has focused on product architecture issues, data modelling techniques and software tools. However, in order to be useful, the models and software applications must be put into the right business process context that is supported by the proper organizational framework. Thus, the paper presents a generic process-oriented approach for change management of product configuration-related information in industrial companies. The process contains steps for identification of new and/or changed product configuration knowledge, request of a change in the product configuration model, evaluation of the request, and finally an update of the product configuration model in the system. In addition, there is a description of employees’ competence profile descriptions and the organizational roles needed to support an effective product configuration management process in an industrial company.

A Fuzzy Product Configuration Design Method Based on Decision Table

2011 ◽  
Vol 338 ◽  
pp. 319-324
Author(s):  
Tie Qiang Ma ◽  
Cheng Yin Xu
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Fuzzy Theory ◽  
Transmission System ◽  
Decision Table ◽  
Product Configuration ◽  
Configuration Model ◽  
Configuration Design ◽  
Product Configuration Model

To solve the problem on the indeterminacy of customers’ demands, a new fuzzy configuration design based on decision table is presented. Generalized product configuration model is proposed and taken as the basic of configuration design. Generalized product configuration model is composed of generalized product structure BOM，structure-function units and configuration rules. Configuration rule is expressed with decision table, and it constrains the process of the configuration design. Fuzzy theory is applied in configuration design. Configuration engine accesses decision table and carries out the configuration reasoning with fuzzy theory in configuration design. Finally, the application on the transmission system of wind turbine verifies the feasibility and validity of this method.

Rapid Locking Assembly Variant Design Based on Product Configuration Model and CBR

2011 ◽  
Vol 48-49 ◽  
pp. 868-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Nie ◽  
Guo Fu Yin ◽  
Xiu Fen Zhao ◽  
Hui Fang ◽  
Ying Yin
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Response ◽  
Product Configuration ◽  
Configuration Model ◽  
Mechanical Transmission ◽  
Case Based Reasoning ◽  
Software System ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Bill Of Materials ◽  
Design Software ◽  
Product Configuration Model

Aiming at rapid response to requirements of mechanical transmission products customization, a system for rapid locking assembly variant design was proposed in terms of features of locking assembly. The bases of the system are Product Configuration Model (PCM) and Case-Based Reasoning (CBR). According to the system, PCM of locking assembly was built by extending traditional Generic Bill of Materials (GBOM). In addition, integration of PCM and CBR was completed by combining method of transforming PCM to a case with similarity assessment algorithm. Moreover, a rapid variant design software system based on PCM and CBR for locking assembly was developed. Finally, the software system was applied to design new locking assembly. Results demonstrate that it is effective for PCM-CBR to support rapid response to customization.

An Approach to Support the Implementation of Product Configuration Tools

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Raffaeli ◽  
Maura Mengoni ◽  
Michele Germani ◽  
Ferruccio Mandorli
Keyword(s):  
Product Structure ◽  
Product Configuration ◽  
Product Knowledge ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Product Configuration Management ◽  
Cad Models ◽  
Geometrical Data ◽  
Virtual Prototypes ◽  
Configuration Systems

Companies applying mass customization paradigm regard the design process as a configuration task where the solution is achieved through the extraction of a new instance from a modular product structure. In this context product configuration management tools are evermore important. Although tools have been already proposed, they fail in real industrial contexts. Main causes are recognizable in high efforts in systems implementation and lack of flexibility in products updating. This research aims to develop an approach to overcome drawbacks and simplify the implementation and the use of product configuration systems also in redesign activities. The paper initially reviews existing systems in terms of design knowledge representation methods and product structure formalization techniques. Then, an approach based on Configuration Virtual Prototypes which store and manage different levels of knowledge, is presented. In particular, a framework is outlined in order to represent design data and its formalization in configuration tools. Three different domains are managed and connected via Configuration Virtual Prototypes: Product Specifications, Geometrical Data and Product Knowledge. Specifically, geometrical data aspects are analyzed in detail providing approaches for eliciting knowledge introduced by parametric template CAD models. The approach will be exemplified through a real application example where an original tool has been developed on the based of the described method. Benefits of the system will be shown and briefly discussed, in particular in terms of reachable flexibility in solutions.

A scalable product configuration model and algorithm

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (S3) ◽  
pp. 6405-6415
Author(s):  
Hu Qiao ◽  
Fan Feng ◽  
Jianyao Qi ◽  
Ying Xiang
Keyword(s):  
Product Configuration ◽  
Configuration Model ◽  
Product Configuration Model
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