Colloquia

Samenvatting

Managing a product lifecycle is a challenging task. Product Lifecycle Management systems were developed to ease this process. Much information can be found within these systems to help inform everyone involved in developing the product. However, products are becoming increasingly complex, and there are also more surrounding aspects to consider. Products are no longer just mechanical parts but also consist of electrical parts and software to control the parts automatically and services provided by the developing company.

This thesis will focus on managing the complexity of products by showing the connections between the subsystems (hardware, software, services) when applying changes to one of them. Firstly, a study will be held on the Lifecycle Management Systems. The study will be used to understand the system's workings. Literature research is then executed to look at the solutions that other researchers have applied to solve the issue of complexity. Secondly, a list of requirements will be made based on the findings. Thirdly, using a combination of the researched information, understanding, and requirements, a self-developed method (Mech BOM) will be proposed to manage the product's complexity. The Mech BOM method illustrates the relations between systems modules and parts, providing transparency for the users and an overview of the product configuration. The Mech BOM method consists of three phases: Preparation, Design, and Input in PLM. Each of these phases are elaborated step by step.

The method is then applied to a Mars rover case of application, as a representative of Smart Product-Service Systems. Finally, a reflection is made on how well the Mech BOM method has handled the case’s complexity and on the method’s practicability for use.