COURSE MEMO FOR THE 2019/2020 ACADEMIC YEAR (2019-06-30)

1.         BACKGROUND

Leading manufacturing firms aim to base their product realisation processes on the use of digital models of the product and the IT-systems that support the product throughout its lifecycle. Information Technology (IT) supports a wide range of tasks throughout a product’s lifecycle including managing requirements, generating concepts, defining geometry, simulating function and properties, planning production, managing spare parts, maintaining, recycling and, retirement of the product.

Industry has a strong need for engineers who are competent in using and adapting modern IT tools for product development and manufacturing. This requires knowledge and skills ranging from understanding the overall business down to the adaptation of IT tools. The course Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) aims to develop these skills. In particular, the course is aimed towards students from the master programs Product Development, Product Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Automotive Engineering, who envision a future as:

• PLM Professionals: For example consultants within the CAD, PLM, systems engineering, or business development areas
• PLM users: Designers, project leaders or managers within development departments
• PLM Experts: Researchers or specialists within the IT support for product development area

2.         COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

The purpose of the course of to provide an overview of how IT tools and systems are used to create and manage product information and knowledge, from identification of customers’ need to product retirement. In particular, the course focuses on the advanced use of computer models, information, and knowledge in the product realisation process.

After completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Describe the state-of-the art and important trends in the area of IT support for product realisation
   • Explain drivers and challenges for PLM
   • Explain the critical role that PLM solutions play in today’s organisations
   • Explain how decisions on product information will impact the success of a company
   • Identify and account for current trends in PLM
   • Describe some leading companies’ PLM approaches
2. Describe the core functionality of different engineering IT tools, specifically in Catia and Teamcenter
   • Explain how PDM systems relate to engineering tools and how they are used in the product lifecycle
   • Explain how PDM systems relate to other enterprise IT systems
   • Describe and exemplify how PLM functionality can be used to facilitate increased information management efficiency and exchange
   • Describe different users role with respect to the PDM system
   • Demonstrate how a user works with a PDM system (Teamcenter).
3. Evaluate company-specific needs for PLM solutions and design PLM solutions for the company’s product lifecycle
   • Apply different methods for business analysis.
   • Use a proper combination of methods in order to define and develop a strategic plan and an architecture for PLM.
   • Explain the need to base a PLM solution both on business needs as well as on possibilities and constraints of available engineering tools and PDM systems (Catia and Teamcenter).
4. Be able to Apply Systems Engineering principles to support the implementation of PDM
   • Apply the notion of system-of-interest, enabling systems, system context, lifecycle processes, and systems models, and relate these to tailored product-, system-, and project lifecycles.
   • Explain the use of models and IT tools to support common systems engineering activities and methods including requirements management, systems architecture and design, and systems analysis.
   • Explain systems architecture and its relation to product data at large based on terms and definitions in ISO/IEC 42010.
   • Explain the use of common description techniques for describing and analysing (important aspects of) systems including SysML diagram types, FFBD, IDEF0, N2, and tree notations such as Functions-Means Trees and Feature diagrams.
5. Use methods for information and process modelling as tools when developing PLM solutions
   • Account for motives and difficulties associated with development process and information modelling.
   • Use Microsoft Teams, Planner or Yolean Visual Planning to plan and follow up a PLM implementation project.
   • Use UML or SysML diagrams to document the contents of a PDM database.
   • Use UML or SysML diagrams to document product structures.
   • Compare different methods for process modelling in order to be able to choose the right method in a particular situation.
   • Use Use Cases and IDEF0 to model, analyse and improve product lifecycle processes.
6. Evaluate and use engineering tools and PDM systems in integrated PLM solutions (Specifically Catia and Teamcenter)
   • Plan the development and implementation of a PLM solution.
   • Specify and document the requirement, information, processes and system architecture of a PLM solution.
   • Customise engineering tools and PDM systems according to implementation plan
   • Be able to use and explain how to use CAD, CAX and PDM systems to others. (Catia and Teamcenter).
7. Model, analyze, and design key product information management processes such as engineering change management, product structure management and configuration
   • Be able to demonstrate how a configurator works by implementing and evaluating solutions in MS Excel or Teamcenter.
   • Be able to demonstrate and evaluate basic workflows in Teamcenter.
   • Be able to set up a basic project, and documents Teamcenter.
8. Describe common organisational change management challenges regarding a PLM implementation
   • Explain how such challenges risks impair the potential benefits from a PLM solution

3.         COURSE CONTENTS

The course contents include:

• PLM overview (what, how, why) 
  • PLM constitutes (CAD, PDM, etc)
  • PLM lifecycle processes and workflows
    • Process modelling using use cases, IDEF0 etc.
  • Information configuration and product structures
    • Modelling using UML
  • PLM strategy and implementation
• Knowledge management
  • Information & knowledge
  • Tacit and Explicit Knowledge
  • Personalisation and Codification strategies
  • Organisational perspectives
• Systems Engineering
  • Systems, lifecycle processes, and lifecycles
  • Systems engineering and its relation to requirements, systems architecture and product data throughout the product lifecycle.
  • Model-based systems engineering and systems description techniques.

4.         COURSE ORGANIZATION

The course is organised around a series of “meetings” (involving lectures and specific exercises).

Completion of the course is worth 7.5 higher education credits (hp). The teaching and learning activities are divided into 30 h lectures, 85 h project work and 60 h homework.

Meetings (Long Lectures)

The lectures are centered on three themes. Product Data Management, Knowledge Management and Systems Engineering.

The course is organised in integrated lectures, tutorials and exercises given on Mondays 13:15-17:00,  Thursdays 08:00-11:45, and Fridays 15:15-17:00

Each lecture will have a different theme and will require active participation. It is therefore of upmost importance to attend the lectures. Though not strict compulsory an attendance list will be employed, and an advance notice of absence is appreciated.

Each meeting will have a list of preferred pre-reading (or pre-viewing) activities in order to assure active participation and proper pre-knowledge to the discussion and activities.

Project work

The project work is the major part of the course where you will develop skills to adapt and use CAD and PDM software to support a design task, applied in a realistic product development setting. The primary tools used are the CAD system Catia V5 and the PDM system Teamcenter. A separate memo describes the project task, this will be distributed at project start as indicated in the schedule (last in this document). Two separate tasks are to be completed involving a basic assignment to set up a functional PDM project in Teamcenter, and secondl more advanced assignment to create a product configurator.

Project supervision is offered according to the schedule. To a large extent this work will be done in groups of two at your own convenience.

Feedback and supervision will be given according to schedule and groups are called separately according to the ProjectMemo (released at project start). Sometimes the computer room is booked but without supervision.

Other IT tools involved in the project work are: Microsoft Planner/Teams, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and Yolean Visual Planning.

 

5.         EXAMINATION

For completion of the course the students must have at least a “passed” grade on the home exam, the project work, and have attended the compulsory guest lectures . The home assignment as well as the final project report is to be submitted through Canvas. The final grade depends on the results from both the home exam (30 %) and from the project work (70 %). Grades 3-5 will be given.

The following calculation example is taken from the introduction lecture:

• Home Exam: gives maximum 22 points.10 Points are required for grade 3. Points are converted to grade by multiplying with 0.25, and rounded up or down. E.g. 10 points gives you the grade 2.5 which rounded up will give the grade 3.
• Project work: First part (basic) part is graded Approved/not approved and 2nd part (advanced) is graded -, 3, 4, or 5. A grade below 3 or Not approved can be “rescued” to a grade 3 or approved  by redoing/improving the work, by recommendation from your supervisor. See ProjectMemo for more details.
• The grading is individual, and do not only reflect the physical hand ins, but also documented activity (project plan, project handbook etc.) relating to the project work.

 

6.         COURSE LITERATURE

The main course literature is:

Product Lifecycle Management (third edition), Authors: Antti Saaksvuori, Anselmi Immonen (Available as PDF through the library www.lib.chalmers.se)

Supplementary reading:

Product Lifecycle Management: 21st Century Paradigm for Product Realisation Author: Stark, John. (Available as PDF through the library www.lib.chalmers.se)

The Teamcenter training materials will be available in digital format. Lecture notes and some other course materials will be made available in Canvas. You will have access through this through your Learning Advantage accout (see the Teamcenter folder on Canvas).

For the course theme related to systems engineering we recommend the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK) as supporting literature. Available on-line: http://sebokwiki.org

7.         PREREQUISITES

None.

Advanced computer aided design (PPU080), Computer aided industrial design (CAID) (PPU010) or similar are recommended. Please notify the examiner if you have not attended these courses. This will in general be acceptable but may require some extra reading and training regarding CAD. Please refer to the schedule for extra training in Catia (during the first 2 weeks of the course).

8.         TEACHERS

Examiner and main lecturer

Associate Professor Dag Bergsjö (DB), phone: 0768 936 368, e-mail: dagb@chalmers.se

Lecturers

Following guest lectures will appear more than once in the course, and are responsible for a separate theme within the course.

Dr. Amer Catic, amer.catic@volvo.com

Dr. Jonas Andersson jonas.andersson@decisionware.se

Project supervisors

Msc Olivia Bourge (OB), 031-772 1321 borgue@chalmers.se

The offices of the examiner and the project supervisors are located in the IMS department, floor 5 in the M building. You are welcome to consult with us there at any time during regular office hours, but we greatly appreciate a pre-notification in the form of e-mail or a phone call in order to make sure we are present and available.

Siemens (Teamcenter support)

Consultants from Siemens (experts in Teamcenter) will be available at the times shown in the schedule below. To make sure that their time is used effectively (and also to ensure that they are needed) we will use a booking system, where project groups can book an appointment. 

Student supervisor

Joseph Leo Arockia Irudayaraj, arockia@student.chalmers.se

 

Other teachers and guest lecturers

Guestlectures from AB Volvo and Husqvarna are invited and shown in the schedule.

8.         COURSE SCHEDULE

Please refer to TimeEdit for import of schedule etc.

Week	Date	Time	Location	Activity	Teacher	Lab Exersice
1 (36)	2.9
		13-14	KD2	Course introduction	DB
		14-17	KD2	PDM1:  Information & process modelling	DB
				Including Information Modelling Exercise
	5.9		KD2	PDM2: Configuration & product structures	DB
				Including Product Configuration Exercise
	6.9	15-17	KD2	CATIA Training: (for those who do not know much about Catia)	OB
2 (37)	9.9	13-17	KD2	PDM3: Product Lifecycle Management Processes	DB
	12.9	8-9	SBD509	Introduction to Teamcenter		Start Basic PDM Lab (1)
		9-12	SBD509	Project supervision and PLM help	Siemens
	13.9	15-17	KD2	Tutorial: Parametric modelling in Catia	OB
3 (38)	16.9	13-17	KD2	PDM4: PLM Strategy and Implementation	DB
	19.9	8-12	SBD509	Project introduction (Stage 1 & 2) and Visual Planning Exercise	DB, OB	More info on PDM Lab 1 Start of PDM Lab 2
	20.9	15-17	KD2	Project supervision and PLM help	Siemens
4 (39)	23.9	13-17	KD2	Knowledge Management 1: Principles and Frameworks	AC
	26.9	8-12	SBD509, SBM500	Knowledge Management 2: LAB Note: Attendance at this lab is compulsory	AC, DB,OB	KM LAB
	27.9	15-17	KD2	Project supervision and PLM help	Siemens
5 (40)	30.9	13-17	KD2	Systems Engineering 1: The common language of Systems engineering and its relation to PLM	JA
	3.10	8-12	SBD509	Systems Engineering 2: Describing and analysing systems using models	JA
	4.10	15-17	KD2	Project supervision and PLM help	Siemens	Presentation of Basic PDM
6 (41)	7.10	13-17	KD2	Guest Lecture: Volvo Trucks
				Note: Attendance at this lecture is compulsory
	10.10	8-9	SBD509	Introduction to home exam and more information about configuration exercise.	DB	Configuration exercise
		9-12	SBD509	Presentation of Basic PDM, Project supervision and PLM help.	DB,OB
	11.10		XXXXX	Not scheduled
7 (42)	14.10	13-17	KD2	Project supervision and PLM help	Siemens
	17.10	8-12	SBD509	Project supervision and PLM help	Siemens
	18.10	15-17	KD2	Guest Lecture: Husqvarna, Johan Grönvall
				Note: Attendance at this lecture is compulsory
				Home Exam (15:00 Deadline in Canvas)
8 (43)	21.10	13-17	KD2	Guest Lecture: Process improvement  by Malin Hane Hagström (Volvo)
				Note: Attendance at this lecture is compulsory
	24.10	08-12	SBD509	Presentation of configuration exercise (separately)		Presentation of configuration
X (49)				Course evaluation meeting (tentative)