Title: A generic multiCAD/multiPDM interoperability framework

Authors: Thomas Paviot, Samir Lamouri, Vincent Cheutet

Addresses: Supmeca/LISMMA, 3, rue Fernand Hainaut, 93407 Saint-Ouen, France. ' LCPI/Arts et Metiers ParisTech, 151, bd de l'Hospital, 75013 Paris, France. ' Supmeca/LISMMA, 3, rue Fernand Hainaut, 93407 Saint-Ouen, France

Abstract: Many Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) work as subcontractors (or co-contractors) for several clients for the design of mechanical components. During the design process, they must use a variety of Computer Aided Design (CAD) softwares and connect all the Product Data Management (PDM) systems of their customers. After defining the specific needs of these companies, we show that the available commercial CAD/PDM integrations, as well as the current literature, are inappropriate for a multiCAD/multiPDM collaborative design. We first define the few simple processes required to ensure an efficient collaboration. Then, the instantiation of these processes in our CAD/PDM integration can be split into four points: the general definition of a CAD product structure tree and its associated model, the conversion algorithm of the product structure to an Engineering Bill of Material (EBOM), the creation of an Unified Modelling Language (UML) data model, an implementation based upon Component Object Model (COM) and Service Oriented Architectures (SOA) technologies. We conclude by presenting the results obtained from the demonstrator developed.

Keywords: CAD; computer aided design; PDM; product data management; EBOM; engineering bill of materials; SOA; service-oriented architecture; multiCAD; multiPDM; interoperability frameworks; generic frameworks; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; subcontractors; co-contractors; clients; mechanical components; software; customers; collaborative design; collaboration; process instantiation; product structure trees; conversion algorithms; unified modelling language; UML; data models; component object model; COM; services operations; services management; informatics; logistics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOI.2011.038322

International Journal of Services Operations and Informatics, 2011 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.124 - 137

Published online: 07 Mar 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article