andChangeManagement.PDFVIP

International Journal of CAD/CAM Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 43~50 (2003) Using Features as the Knowledge Carrier for Cross Company Collaboration and Change Management ? A design methodology for compressing lead-time from plastic part design to mold making Song Bin*, Li Zengzhi, Fu Qinrong and Lu Wen Feng Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, 71 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 638075 Abstract ? This paper presents a methodology in which the knowledge of design intents and change requests is communicated unambiguously cross collaboration partners through features. The domain of application is focused on the plastic part design for enabling effective collaboration between the product design and plastic mold making. The methodology takes the feature- based design approach and allows design features and knowledge to be reused in plastic injection mold design. It shortens the mold design lead-time, reduces mold design efforts, and enables unambiguous and fast design change management between product and mold designers. These contribute to the reduction of product development cycle time. Keywords: Product design, Feature-based, Knowledge management, Mold design, and Design change management 1. Introduction the DFMA principles to the plastic part design means that design features that can cause problems in molding Market pressures demand better, cheaper, and faster need to be identified and avoided at the design stage. introduction of products. In many of these products, During the design, design options should be evaluated plastic parts are used for casing and supporting structures. and optimally selected based on cost and time of The capability to design and make the plastics parts making the part through the plastic injection processes. faster and cheaper has become a key competitive factor While the CE and DFMA methodologies optimize for these manufacturers. pl