ProSTEP iViP Symposium 2007

Track 4/1
Global Data Exchange for Product Management Based on Standards

Dr. Reinhold Klass, DaimlerChrysler AG
Gerhard Schatz, DaimlerChrysler AG

Abstract
A frictionless exchange of information and engineering data in a global distributed development network is a fundamental precondition for a partner-spreading vehicle development. The support of national and international standards such as OFTP, ENGDAT/ENGPART, STEP and the visualization format JT makes thereby the fast and effective connection of suppliers and development partners into the enterprise-spreading development process possible. Besides, the support of these standards permits an automated data exchange process of complex data without loss of information as far as possible. An integration of discrete event type processes like data conversion into other formats or quality checks from CAD data became possible only by standardisation. The presentation describes the national and international standards and their meaning for data exchange solutions used with DaimlerChrysler (data exchange, automatic control supply, couplings, conversions, operation, service desk, global components, STEP tools, ENGDAT, ENGPART, data service and -networks). By means of practical examples the solutions for the supplier integration and DaimlerChrysler internal exchange of engineering data are described more closely. Finally a view on future development and trends in the area of data exchange is given with DaimlerChrysler.

PDF-Dokument, size 4,0 MB

Track 4/2
A Process Framework for Cross-company Collaboration in Simulation
Dr. Günter Staub, PDTec GmbH
Dr. Heinz Mayer, Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co. KG

Abstract
The cooperation between customers and suppliers during automotive product development is increasingly based on IT-solutions, which support sharing of engineering data within com-monly agreed cross enterprise engineering processes. One still missing building block for ful-filling the vision of holistic and seamless cross enterprise collaboration is the sound support of IT-based simulation processes crossing company boarders based on standards. In a common project between MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik and the vif (Competence Center - Das Virtuelle Fahrzeug), supplemented by consulting services provided by PDTec concerning the methodological background and expertise in cross enterprise communication methods, this missing building block towards a seamless partner integration within the simu-lation domain was developed. The core of the selected approach is a reference model for the whole simulation process, consisting of a company independent cross enterprise reference process model and a company neutral reference data model capturing the simulation data be-ing communicated during the execution of the reference process as well as the requested simulation tasks of the engineering partner. The essential advantages resulting from this approach are a significant time reduction for the establishment of IT-oriented prerequisites needed by new partnerships in the context of com-mon car projects as well as a significantly increased process quality and process safety. An important precondition for the acceptance of this approach was the fact that the company internal simulation processes and IT-systems do neither need to be exposed to the engineering partner nor changed when applying the approach. In addition the company internal know-how about customized simulation methods can be kept internally, i.e. it needs not to be unfolded to the engineering partner and vice versa. In this contribution that underlying procedure as well as the results of this project will be pre-sented. The implementation approach for the reference model, based on standards like BEPL, OMG PLM Services and STEP AP214 is presented. In addition, potential synergy effects with the SimPDM Working Group of the ProSTEP iViP association will be identified.

Presentation not released for publication

Track 4/3
Collaborative Engineering: Direct Data Integration, an Improvement for the Collaboration with Suppliers

Joachim Günther, CIMPA GmbH
Frank Hörich, Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH

Abstract
An effective, secure and working cooperation between Airbus and its suppliers will become even more important in the future. As an option to the conventional data exchange scenario, an innovative solution was tested in a pilot project with a risk share partner Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) enabling a direct access to the local Airbus workstation from its location and the functionality of direct data integration for design solutions. With the help of a commercial software solution, the supplier gets mirrored graphic images of the Airbus workstation and is able to design directly in the Airbus environment. The prerequisite is an excellent performance, which was ensured by CIMPA with help of specific tests. Contrary to the previous process of intricate product replication by data exchange, requiring an ad hoc implemented product structure and reference software installations at the suppliers location, an always up-to-date DMU of the suppliers work package is available and the data exchange volume can be reduced drastically. EFW designed a complete flooring work package for the A380 in the pilot project and by this solution got access by this solution to all Airbus tools necessary for designing and data integration. Because of excellent experiences, the implementation will be expanded to all EFW work pages in near future.

PDF-Dokument, size 1,5 MB