Title: Product lifecycle management support: a challenge in supporting product design and manufacturing in a networked economy

Authors: Eswaran Subrahmanian, Sudarsan Rachuri, Steven J. Fenves, Sebti Foufou, Ram D. Sriram

Addresses: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh and Manufacturing Systems Integration Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8263, USA. ' George Washington University, DC and Manufacturing Systems Integration Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8263, USA. ' Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh and Manufacturing Systems Integration Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8263, USA. ' University of Burgundy, B.P. 47870, Dijon France and Manufacturing Systems Integration Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8263, USA. ' Design and Process Group at NIST and Manufacturing Systems Integration Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8263, USA

Abstract: In this paper, we provide an overview of the changing design and manufacturing landscape in the 21st century that has come about because of IT and the changing global conditions. Based on this overview and a review of the current state of IT for PLM support in the design and manufacturing sector, we identify the areas of need for standards. A review of areas covered by standards leads us to the development of an initial typology of standards and a potential path for bringing convergence of these standards in support of PLM. We make a case throughout the paper that given the nature of the task we need to aspire to create open standards with wide participation. We conclude by arguing that there is an important role to be played in this context by institutions such as NIST as a neutral party in the standards debates and implementations.

Keywords: product lifecycle management; PLM systems; PLM support; interoperability; data exchange; PLM standards; product design; product development; manufacturing; information technology; open standards.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2005.007342

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2005 Vol.1 No.1, pp.4 - 25

Published online: 07 Jul 2005 *

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