KBE system focus on capture and reuse of engineering knowledge in order to automate tedious and time consuming engineer tasks using IT solutions. There are methodological issues regarding methods to capture and reuse engineering knowledge which are integral parts of the product development process. There are also IT related issues regarding how KBE tools and applications are integrated with the rest of the IT environment.

The aim of the project was to investigate how knowledge based engineering (KBE) tools and applications can be integrate to provide better support for the product development process focusing on development of mechatronic products.
A architectural concept for KBE solutions has been developed based on a service oriented architecture (SOA), in which all IT applications are considered as providers of services needed in the process was recognized as an enabler for IT integration. This architecture has been tested in two demonstrators. One integrates various IT applications and databases which support an engineering change management process where a proposed change in a turbo in a diesel engine is simulated and its impacts are analyzed using the mentioned IT resources. Thanks to the SOA integration these IT resources could be accessed and read/executed automatically making it possible to provide the change initiator with a quick answer regarding the proposed change’s impact. The other links design and manufacturing systems, providing a designer with manufacturability information early in the design process.

The research project is funded by VINNOVA and is a co-operation between Chalmers, Volvo Technology, Volvo Powertrain and Volvo Aero.

Johan Malmqvist, professor, project leader
Amer Catic, PhD student
Dag Bergsjö, PhD student