A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT OF RIM PARTS
Year: 2011
Editor: Culley, S.J.; Hicks, B.J.; McAloone, T.C.; Howard, T.J. & Dong, A.
Author: Torcato, Ricardo; Santos, Ricardo; Dias, Madalena; Roth, Richard; Olivetti, Elsa; Lopes, José Carlos
Section: Design Methods and Tools Part 2
Page(s): 248-257
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to present a research project currently underway which seeks to identify and organize the knowledge required in the development process of Reaction Injection Moulding parts at the early product development stage, specifically the material selection, mould design and the process planning for mould making and moulding operation. The purpose of the research is to verify if an Expert System, a computer program that uses knowledge and inference procedures to model the RIM development process, provides the necessary insight into metrics such as development lead time and manufacturing costs to deal with the decision makings required at that stage. As this is a work-in progress, the paper will focus on the first three tasks carried out: 1) Structure the downstream processes and procedures of developing product design concepts for RIM parts; 2) Define the dimensions of knowledge required in the concurrent concept development of RIM parts; and 3) Present the theoretical implementation framework, the methodologies and procedures of an ES which we believe will help deal with concurrent concept development decision makings at the early design stage of RIM parts.
Keywords: REACTION INJECTION MOULDING; EXPERT SYSTEM; COST MODELLING; CONCURRENT ENGINEERING