Title: A data management system for the development of headlamps for passenger cars: an OEM – supplier perspective

Authors: Haris Naduthodi, Kalakkath Prakasan

Addresses: Department of Production Engineering, Government Engineering College Thrissur, Thrissur, Kerala 680 009, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 004, India

Abstract: Today|s market conditions pose several challenges to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) involved in new product introduction. These challenges can be overcome to a great extent by the judicious use of information systems and distributed practice of product development. A passenger car is one such product which undergoes changes in style owing to aesthetic requirements and outsourced components are large in number. A major unit that is easily influenced by the change in style is headlamp and there are limited research activities reported in the development of headlamps from the OEM|s perspective. Suppliers of headlamps are to be supported with adequate information on changes in style of the vehicle in such a way that supplier can participate in the design process. A supplier may not have powerful PDM/PLM systems. Instead, the use of domain specific CAD/CAM softwares is expected with a supplier. This paper reports an approach for the development of an information system supporting the supplier of headlamps to collaborate in the product development process by addressing the requirements of the downstream phases.

Keywords: automotive headlamps; product development; information systems; component-based PDM; multiple product modelling; PDM strategy; product data management; passenger cars; automobile industry; original equipment manufacturers; OEMs; supplier collaboration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2010.036490

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2010 Vol.4 No.4, pp.390 - 406

Published online: 03 Nov 2010 *

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