Digital Product Process for Construction Product Industry

Abstract

ABSTRACT:A large research program of digital product process has been active (2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012) in Finland. The goal of the program has been to increase customer orientation and productivity in company networks that design and deliver products, systems and services to global markets. For small and medium sized companies the developing of multitechnical products usually has to be done in a network of companies. This requires a lot of data transfer and integration between various computer systems. To improve these processes the research project "Developing the digital product process of multitechnical products to improve the designing and manufacturing of small series product" (Monidigi) has been started.The aim of the Monidigi research was to improve the design process by using solely digital product information that is handled by proper product lifecycle management systems. The product development is guided by the philosophy of the digital prototype that is tested in a virtual working environment. Products are modeled in 3D and developed by various simulations and analyses before real prototypes are made. This allows a flexible design process and coordinated change management. Digital product processes allow easy data transfer, collaborated engineering and modern manufacturing in a network of companies. Several examples and development possibilities and the state of the art in construction industry are introduced and evaluated.

BIM and PLM Associations in Current Literature

“…On the other hand, PLM has never been described through the attribute "object-oriented". When they are seen as IT systems, papers listed even the main functionalities of PLM systems ( [13], [18], [21], [22], [26]) and of BIM systems; [26] also produces a scheme to easily visualize overlapping functionalities of the two systems.…”

“…3D CAD, CAM,CAE, 4D -5D BIM. [10], [21] low and medium [10], [11], [18], [38], [40] Highly fragmented [10], [11] [23], [38] Localized [10], [11] Multidisciplinary and heterogeneous team [19], [22], [24], [38] Slowness to changes [23] Low integration [40] Complex project, components and process [10], [13], [14], [16], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27] Individual nature of the project [19], [23], [24] Project Based [10], [17], [18], [23] High variation in project structures and delivery methods [18] Short Term and more isolated relationships with client [10], [38] Lack of process commonality, standardization and integration [10], [11], [23], [38] , [39] PLM Complex Manufacturing Sectors and in detail Automotive and ...…”

“…PLM [40] application modules, PDM, 3D CAD,CAM, CAE. Information modeling architectures, development toolkits, business app [21], [10] long experienced of PLM and ERP use, but with different levels of adoption [10], [12], [17], [18], [21], [23] Partially integrated "islands of information" [11] Globalized and consolidated [10] Complex product [10], [13], [18], [20], [21], [23], [24], [25], [26] Product based [10], [11] Long Standing and collaborative relationships with client [10], [38] Lack of a holistic view of users of information [11] Engineering methods. Support decisionmaking from whole life cycle perspective [10], [38] Despite of several different current characteristics identified, almost each paper includes potential future similarities for companies adopting BIM and/or PLM.…”

“…Support decisionmaking from whole life cycle perspective [10], [38] Despite of several different current characteristics identified, almost each paper includes potential future similarities for companies adopting BIM and/or PLM. In detail, for both industries, data governance, information management, storage and distribution, are important for the whole building/product lifecycle, together with the new competencies and digital skills required [10], [11], [12], [21]. For example, for [21] the "Advanced use and management of digital product data that shortens time-tomarket, gives tools for product information distribution and changes management, better and reliable tools for customer requirements", and for [10] "collaborative ways of working, procurement methods, and process planning" are advantages desired in both construction and mechanical engineering industries, although there are structural barriers like the lack of vertical and horizontal integration.…”

“…Papers that treat BIM and PLM as different entities, are those like [17] that keeps them as two worlds apart, considering BIM as an enabler to link PLM to ERP, or papers that conceive them for different functions as in [18] and [29] where PLM is a unifying platform for data produced by BIM-based authoring tools, or in [14] where BIM integrated with 3D capturing processes can move towards "a special kind of Product Life cycle Management (PLM), Building Life cycle Management (BLM)". Similarly in [21] BIM"s function is producing digital product data and information (authoring tools like CAD, CAM, CAT) and PLMs" is handling digital product information. In this group there is also [15] that sees BIM as an approach for design and analysis that offers a static view of the building, PLM, instead can simulate the management and is associated with the dynamic view of the building in time.…”