The
introduction of PDM and its productive use, particularly in industrial development and
design, is gaining importance as a means of ensuring competetiveness. For successful PDM
introduction, clear targets have to be defined and implemented with the aid of a properly
specified step-by-step concept. Besides consideration of PDM functionality pure and
simple, the question that must constantly be asked is how the greatest benefit can be
obtained from the application of a PDM system. The following points are of special
importance in this respect:
 | System integration |
| Standardization |
| Application concept |
| Date import/data migration
|
System integration
A PDM system does not constitute a powerful
solution until it has been provided with a high degree of system integration, and with CAD
and MRP in particular. Above all, close interaction of PDM and CAD is a precondition for
creating logical work steps in the product development process. All work to be done, such
as researching, documenting, filing, drafting, calculating, producing part lists, etc.,
can then be dealt with very effectively by the user at his engineering desktop.
With the integration tool global interface,
ECS offers the ideal means of integrating MetaKON with a variety of EDP systems with
STEP-compatible interface in such a way as to meet the customer's technical requirements.
Standardization
With the introduction of an integrated PDM
solution, thought should also be given as to how data and working methods can be optimized
and/or reorganized. Work processes in development and design should be governed more by
methodology and less by intuition. Individual methods of working and overall processes can
be effectively optimized by the application of a small number of standardization methods.
For the management of large quantities of data, as required for the complete description
of a product, it is essential to compile and use a catalog of unambiguous technical terms.
The effectiveness of a data management system, particularly with respect to fast search
and access facilities, largely depends on the use of a function-free nomenclature with
geometry-related terminology.
Parts with the same functionality but
different form are widely found in the manufacturing industry, mainly for historical
reasons. A functional substitute version covering all design requirements by virtue of
dimensional modifications can usually be found for several design versions with the aid of
a geometry analysis. This establishes the foundation for building up an efficient version
structure.
Application of a uniform numbering system is essential for
the management and organization of the extensive data quantities required for product
description. An EDP-compatible serial number is best suited for the identification or
naming of all objects and procedures. The introduction of classification of standard
components (parts and assemblies) on the basis of item characterstics and performance
according to DIN 4000/4001 and ISO 13584 forms the foundation of a powerful parts
management system for use with repeat parts. In-house know-how thus becomes quickly
reproducible, leading to a marked reduction in the diversity of types and parts and lower
product development and manufacturing costs.
Application concept
In order to make standardization methods
practical for production, it is necessary to define a suitable application concept and
display it on a powerful integrated PDM system.
Development and design can be logically
divided into development design and order design. The fields of activity falling within
development design comprise mainly the establishment of the operating principle,
conceptualization, standardization, scaling and the creation of a computer-supported
variable product model. With these results, the order design can very quickly produce
quotations based on sound cost accounting or take care of order processing.
All classified single parts are filed as
parameterized version model in the relational CAD system. The parameters originate from
the associated CL tables of the PDM system. Behind every cell entry in the CL table is a
version with an automatically.
To assure consistent PDM basic data at all
times, the system calls up the associated design-related part master set every time prior
to release of a new CL cell entry.
However, the part building block is not
intended soley for single parts, but also for assemblies of repeat parts. At the end of an
assembly model of standard single parts, the PDM system automatically produces an CL
assembly table. The assembly model can be produced at all stages in the hierarchy up to
the product level. Fully relational versions of CAD product models with PDM linking can be
built up in this way.
A part building block can consist not only of
single parts and assemblies, but also of complete drawings. Like the views of single parts
or assemblies, such a drawing or master drawing is linked relationally with an CL table.
As generic model, the master drawing contains
all dimensioning, including tolerances, such as outline and bearing tolerances, as well as
machining data and text. A drawing for an order can thus be generated automatically in the
correct form by selection of a line in the associated CL table. No drafting work is
required.
Before a master drawing is released for reproducing standard
or order drawings, it is thoroughly examined. This procedure makes it possible to
implement a zero error strategy for producing drawings.
Data Import/Data Migration
Introducing a PDM solution is always
associated with the task of importing an extremely wide variety of data from a variety of
sources and systems into the new management software. Since relatively large quantities of
data are usually involved, the data import or data migration must be automated to a high
degree.
To solve this problem, ECS has developed a
data import tool that, interacting with the global interface GIF, transfers any desired
data sets to the correct Metaphase / MetaKON objects.
New data can be input, or existing data can
be updated. Primarily, data can be read in from stock drawings, or standard part tables
can be updated. These are just as important preconditions for making productive use of an
integrated PDM solution as the transfer of design-related master sets of parts and parts
list information from MRP.
Furthermore, any desired sets of documents
can be transferred from a very wide variety of user environments to the PDM basic data.
WAMware and its affiliates are authorized resellers of MetaKON, a product
developed by ECS GmbH, Germany.
WAMware is a registered trademark of WAMware Ltd.,
MetaKON a registered trademark of ECS GmbH, and Metaphase a registered trademark of
Metaphase Technology, Inc.
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