Construction of Integrated Engineering Knowledge Base for Concurrent Engineering based on Virtual Manufacturing

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The Objective of this research is to realize a virtual manufacturing environment which enables to predict product functionality and manufacturability by organizing engineering knowledge systematically in computer compatible form, and to rigorously formalize the concept of concurrent engineering which has been subject to human ambiguous technical know-how and difficult to be transferred to others. For this objective the following items have been investigated.(1) Organization of virtual manufacturing and concurrent engineeringBy surveying the practice of industry, architecture of advanced manufacturing systems has been investigated for concurrent engineering based on virtual manufacturing. Prototype systems have been implemented for collaborative work in design and manufacturing preparation activities.(2) Extraction and systematization of kernel engineering knowledgeBasic engineering knowledge based on physical principles has been extracted and organized, such as dimensions, tolerances, assembly, behavior, etc., and has been organized in database.(3) Generic methods for construction of integrated engineering knowledge basePrototype systems have been constructed for flexible description of complicated semantics of engineering knowledge by use of symbolic mathematics, non-standard logic and object oriented concept.(4) Prototyping of integrated engineering knowledge basePractical engineering knowledge has been described, such as optical components of copiers and automotive engine subassembly, and has been evaluated for its usefulness.A method of construction of engineering knowledge base and organization of product and production process knowledge have been investigated. It is a future work to evaluate practical implication of these results for concurrent engineering.