Overcoming the challenges of product development and engineering

changes in a distributed engineering environment

M. Goltz, D. Müllera, R. Schmittb, M. vanden Boschec

aInstitut für Maschinenwesen, TU Clausthal, Germany

bSiemens SGP Verkehrstechnik GmbH, Austria

cMission Critical SA, Belgium

 
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Workflow - according to the Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC):

"The automation of a business process, in whole or part, during which documents, information or tasks are passed from one participant to another for action, according
to a set of procedural rules."

 
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  • 'Classical' document-based workflow supports formal engineering activities.
  • For the support of creative engineering activities product data controlled workflow functionality is required.

  • Parameters represent the smallest product data element.

  • Defined system and interface parameters can be used

    • to identify the need for communication in the supply chain (parameter checklist / network),

    • to initiate the communication (notification),

    • for document-free quality assurance (parameter approval and release).

  • Parameter-based engineering workflow management represents and evolutionary step in today's PDM technology.