Knowledge modelling for an electrical PLM system in aeronautics

Abstract

Management of the whole product lifecycle is a major stake that most companies have now integrated into their strategies. Research works have been focused on this asset but mainly for mechanical products. In previous work proposes a knowledge modelling approach in a mechanical context, centred on expert users’ collaboration. In this paper, we worked with an aeronautical company in charge of electrical maintenance. Its objective was to improve its business processes, from design phase to production phase, by developing a new PLM system, integrated to its electrical CAD software. Our research aim is to evaluate the genericity of previous knowledge modelling approach in this electrical context. We propose then an integrated knowledge model based on three dimensions: (electric) product modelling, (aeronautics retrofitting) process/project modelling and organization/collaboration modelling. We show how this model identifies generic vs expert knowledge and how ‘business rules’ can be defined to support collaboration and to reduce time of development process. Finally, we propose a global PLM system and we detail the impact on the collaborations and on the whole ‘product’ lifecycle. This PLM system is actually developed by an electrical CAD editor, ensuring the integration between CAD data and PLM database. We conclude on future work extending this first PLM system: a generic problem-solving approach for capitalizing and reusing knowledge then an augmented reality environment for using PLM product data during installation phase.