[ProPro 2.0] - Product-oriented process management - Computer-aided modeling as well as graph-based analysis and visualization of the matrix-based product description

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Sandro Wartzack
• Subject Area: Engineering Design, Machine Elements, Product Development
• Term: from 2012 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 211191171

A procedure model for property-oriented product development has been developed in the first phase of the proposed research project "Product-oriented process management". This leads developers purposefully through the development process and supports regarding the calculation of the degree of product maturity and the preventive avoidance of iterations. As the product behaviour during its usage is crucial for customers, the procedure model focuses on product characteristics and properties as well as on the product behaviour. The results of the project make clear, that the relations between different product elements (e.g. properties, characteristics, behaviour) can be modelled and analysed very efficiently by a matrix-based product description in parallel to the development process. The overall objective of the follow-up project is the development of methods and IT tools for computer-aided modelling as well as graph-based analysis and visualization of product elements from the matrix-based product description. This main objective is subdivided into in the following two sub goals. A major problem of the matrix-based product description is their very time-consuming manual modelling. Therefore, the first goal of the proposed follow-up project is the development of a methodology for the computer-aided acquisition of the relevant data and information for a (partially) automated modelling of the matrix-based product description. For this purpose, the relevant IT systems (e.g. CAD system) have to be analysed with respect to all files and documents, which contain the product elements, and have to be evaluated with a cost-benefit analysis. Based on this, a concept for the computer-aided modelling through an automated acquisition of geometrical characteristics (e.g. from CAD models) for the matrix-based product description has to be developed. The result is the basis for an efficient and high-quality modelling of the matrix-based product description with all relevant product elements and their relations. The second goal, which is based on the first one, is the (further) development of computer-aided analysis and visualization methods for the matrix-based product description. Therefore, various concepts and algorithms from graph theory have to be identified and (further) developed to provide useful graph-based analysis and visualization options for product developers. This means that all product elements and their relations can be analysed and visualized through computer-aided tools and algorithms for efficient iteration and maturity management. Finally, the computer-aided modelling, analysis and visualization of the matrix-based product description will be validated by using a demonstrator.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professorin Dr.-Ing. Kristin Paetzold-Byhain