Concurrent Simultaneous Engineering Systems: The Way to Successful Product Development

Competitive edge in today's world markets can only be achieved by an integrated approach to manufacturing. Concurrent or Simultaneous Engineering offers the promise of a reduced product development cycle, using complex technologies to satisfy customer demand for high quality, competitively-priced products brought to market in minimum time. The CONSENS implementation of Concurrent/Simultaneous Engineering (CSE) is an integrated package developed over recent years by some of the leading manufacturers and research institutes in Europe. It is the product of the flagship EU research project into the use of IT in Manufacturing led by the Fraunhofer Institute in Stuttgart. In particular, this study describes the management of change, network organisation, CONSENS architecture and module integration, SiFrame Management Information System, design for CSE and industrial implementations of CONSENS.

1. Introduction.- 2. A Concept for Revitalisation of Product Development.- 2.1 The Worldwide Tendencies in Economy.- 2.2 The New Orientation for Product Development ― Interactions between Time, Costs, and Quality.- 2.3 Concurrent Simultaneous Engineering (CSE) ― Strategy and Methodology of New Oriented Product Development.- 2.4 Topics of Concurrent Simultaneous Engineering.- 2.4.1 Strategies for Concurrent Simultaneous Engineering.- 2.4.2 CSE Areas: Potentials for Improvements in Product Development.- 2.5 Implementation of Concurrent Simultaneous Engineering ― A Business Process Re-Engineering Approach.- 2.5.1 Culture ― The Factor of Success in CSE-Implementation.- 2.5.2 A guideline for CSE-Implementation.- 3. The Organisational Environment of Concurrent Simultaneous Engineering (CSE).- 3.1 Required Characteristics of a CSE Organisation.- 3.2 Project-management in a CSE Organisation.- 3.2.1 The Project-Team and its Characteristics.- 3.2.2 The Project-Manager and his Role.- 3.2.3 Rules of Teamwork.- 3.2.4 Possible Organisation Arrangements for R&D.- 3.2.5 Core Team ― Heavyweight Team Structure.- 3.2.6 Portfolio of Approaches.- 3.3 Team Organisation.- 3.3.1 The Concept of the Team Organisation.- 3.3.2 Open Questions Arising with the Team Organisation.- 3.3.3 Advantages of a Team Organisation.- 3.4 Incentive & Motivation in a Team Organisation.- 3.5 Organisational Learning in a Team Organisation.- 3.5.1 Characteristics of a Learning Organisation.- 3.5.2 A Concept for Organisational Learning in a Team Organisation.- 3.6 Conclusion.- 4. Enabling Technologies I: The CONSENS Platform.- 4.1 Support of CSE by the CONSENS Platform.- 4.1.1 Support of CSE by the Framework SIFRAME.- 4.1.2 Support of CSE by the Information Management System.- 4.1.3 Support of CSE by the Product Information Archive.- 4.2 The main Components of the CONSENS Platform.- 4.2.1 The Framework SIFRAME.- 4.2.2 Information Management System (IMS).- 4.2.3 Product Information Archive (PIA).- 4.3 Modules of the CONSENS Platform.- 4.3.1 SIFRAME ― The CONSENS Framework.- 4.3.2 IMS ― Information Management System.- 4.3.3 Product Information Archive (PIA).- 4.4 Summary.- 5. Enabling Technologies II: CONSENS Tools.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Support of CSE by Product Oriented Tools.- 5.3 Product Oriented Tools.- 5.3.1 Intelligent Computer Aded Design: KnobieCAD.- 5.3.2 Design for Manufacturing.- 5.3.3 Design for Assembly by R. Menges, U. Eigenmann.- 5.3.4 Design to Cost by E. Engelborghs.- 5.3.5 Design of Production Facilities.- 5.3.6 Design for Quality.- 5.4 Support of CSE by Project Oriented Tools.- 5.5 Project Oriented Tools.- 5.5.1 EPM ― Engineering Process Manager.- 5.5.2 MDS: A System for Decision Support in the Economic Efficiency Analysis and Controlling of the Product Developing Process.- 5.6 Conclusion.- 5.6.1 The Tools in Relation with the PSI-Strategies.- 5.6.2 The CONSENS-Tools and CSE.- 6. Case Studies of Successful CONSENS Implementation.- 6.1 Temic Telefunken microelectronic GmbH.- 6.1.1 Description of Products and Projects.- 6.1.2 Description of the CONSENS Environment.- 6.1.3 Description of Enabling Information Technology.- 6.1.4 Improvements of the Product Development Process with Respect to CSE.- 6.2 Dasa Military Aircraft Division.- 6.2.1 Description of Products and Projects.- 6.2.2 Description of CONSENS Environment.- 6.2.3 Description of Enabling Information Technology.- 6.2.4 Improvements of the Product Development Process with Respect to CSE.- 6.2.5 Future Improvements.- 6.3 Hidrosorefame.- 6.3.1 Description of Produts and Projects.- 6.3.2 Description of the CONSENS Environment.- 6.3.3 Description of the Test Environment.- 6.3.4 Improvements of the Product Development Process with Respect to CSE.- 6.3.5 Future Improvements.- 6.4 ALCATEL BELL.- 6.4.1 Description of Products and Projects.- 6.4.2 Description of CONSENS Enviroment.- 6.4.3 Description of Enabling Information Technology and Improvements of the Product Development.- 6.5 AEG Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH.- 6.5.1 Description of Products and Projects.- 6.5.2 Description of the CONSENS Environment.- 6.5.3 Description of Enabling Information Technology.- 6.5.4 Improvements of the Product Development Process with Respect to CSE.- 6.5.5 Future Improvements.- 7. Future Trends in Concurrent Simultaneous Engineering.- 7.1 Conclusion of the CONSENS Project.- 7.2 Co-operation in Engineering Based on Core Competences.- 7.3 Co-operation via a Global Engineering Marketplace.- 7.4 Multi-company Development Co-operations.- 7.5 Conclusion.- Editors and Authors.