Concurrent development of RIM parts

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present a research project which intends to identify and organize the knowledge required in the development process of Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) parts in the conceptual design phase, particularly as to material selection, mold design and the process planning for mold making and molding operations. The overall objective of the research is to verify if an Expert System, a computer program that uses knowledge and inference procedures to model the RIM development process, provides the required insight into metrics such as development lead time and manufacturing costs to deal with the decision makings required early on in order to reduce the subsequent redesigns and reworks. Based on the characterization of the industrial practice of RIM, it is our belief that the concurrent concept development is the appropriate approach to achieve this goal. This paper will focus on the structurization of the downstream processes and procedures of developing product design concepts for RIM parts; and on the dimensions of knowledge required in the concurrent concept development of RIM parts, aspects which are the basis of the knowledge base and production rules of an Expert System currently being developed. © 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited.