Measuring and improving the process of engineering change orders in a model-based definition context
by Virgilio Quintana; Louis Rivest; Robert Pellerin
International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management (IJPLM), Vol. 6, No. 2, 2012

Abstract: The model-based definition (MBD) approach represents a trend in computer-aided design (CAD) that promises reduced time-to-market and improved product quality. Its main purpose is to enhance and accelerate the design, manufacturing and inspection of new products by integrating drawing annotations directly onto a 3D model; thereby obviating the need to generate engineering drawings. Before fully adopting this drawing-less initiative, industries must be capable of determining the gains that can potentially be obtained within each of the different product lifecycle processes that will be affected, especially within the engineering change order (ECO) process, which is based on the study, review, annotation, validation, approval and release of engineering drawings. This paper presents the results of a research project conducted to evaluate and quantify the gains of administering the ECO process in an MBD context using empirical and experimental data within a discrete-event simulation approach. Based on a case study in a Canadian aerospace company, our results show that reductions of about 11% in the average overall processing time and in the average cost can be achieved.

Online publication date: Sat, 16-Aug-2014

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