Overview

This paper contains a roadmap to Concurrent Engineering 2.0 which is best described as a system of practices that enable an advanced level of concurrency between Engineering and Production. The best practices are organized into a systematic methodology that integrates and streamlines business processes, information flow, and change management between Engineering and Production departments. The software solutions that carry out these methodologies include Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Operations Process Management (OPM), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and Quality Assurance (QA).

The successful first wave of Concurrent Engineering efforts from the early 1990s has been classified as Concurrent Engineering 1.0 and is contrasted with the current wave of improvements in concurrency enabled by the latest breed of technology and software tools.

This paper is presented as a how-to guide and is targeted for Product Design Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, Industrial Engineers, Quality Engineers, and Operations Managers who are interested in streamlining complex engineering change practices in industries such as aerospace, defense, shipbuilding, nuclear energy, industrial electronics, and complex medical devices.

Key Points

• The most significant improvements in Concurrent Engineering 2.0 methodologies stem from elevating the importance of manufacturing process design to the level of product design.
• Digital process validation and optimization techniques, including simulation and line balancing analysis, should be incorporated into the regular approval process and used throughout the program lifecycle.
• Technologies like Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Access Rights Management have emerged to facilitate the integration of Engineering and Manufacturing software.
• Companies with a global supply chain will benefit by applying Concurrent Enginering methodologies to assemblies and complex components in the second and third tiers of partners and suppliers. A competitive advantage can be achieved by better understanding how product design changes impact manufacturing for multiple downstream suppliers, which eventually impact final product cost and schedules.

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