New approach to knowledge intensive product modeling in PLM systems

The problem addressed in this paper is that of including knowledge in product model for the application in industrial product development. A recent paradigm in engineering is product lifecycle management (PLM) in virtual space. Increasing demand for communication, representation, assignment, acceptance, and processing of high number of knowledge entities in PLM systems is a new challenge. Decision making on modeled product objects in virtual spaces requires better communication between interacting human and computer procedure than it is possible with data representations in current product models. In order to achieve this, the authors analyzed knowledge specific characteristics of engineering activities for entire product lifecycle. They concluded that current product models should be completed by description of information content for enhanced explanation and evaluation at decision-making. In this paper, knowledge advisors as recent achievements in industrial product modeling systems are evaluated and problems emerged at knowledge assistance of engineering decisions are identified. Rest of the paper is organized as follows. Flow of knowledge related information and processing of multiple intents are evaluated as communication issues. Next, content orientated product model is proposed and its integration with data oriented descriptions in present industrial models is explained. Following this, a new content oriented sector of the product model is conceptualized. Finally, implementation of the proposed modeling method in industrial PLM system is discussed and items are issues are assigned for the research work in the next future.