System for design of the manufacturing process of connecting parts for automotive industry

The proposition of complex hybrid system, dedicated to modelling of life cycle of materials and optimization of their in use properties, is presented in the paper. The approach is based on the conventional optimization algorithms, FE simulations of industrial production process and knowledge base, containing both theoretical and practical data in form of rules, facts and equations. Simulation and optimization of the manufacturing of the connecting part used in automotive industry was selected for the purposes of this work. The particular emphasis is put on control of selected in use properties of products by proper design of technological parameters for consecutive stages of the production chain. The concept of the life cycle modelling used in the proposed system, as well as results obtained from simulations, are also presented in the paper.