Product Family Modelling in The Construction Industry · Import of product models into building...

Product Family Modelling in The Construction Industry

Kaj A. JørgensenAalborg University, Department of Production

Product Family Modelling

Aalborg University Department of Production

Kaj A. Jørgensen


ContentIntroductionImport of product models into building models

• Different kind of product models• Object models, GDL, IFC, PLIB, etc.• Finalised – parameterised – configurable product models• Product models – towards mass customisation

Product Family Models as the foundation for building models• Attributes, domains, domain constraints – relational constraints• From product family model to finalised product model• Product configuration: the manufacturer and the building designer

Sample development projects in DenmarkConclusion



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Product Modelling - A Strategic Research Area

Design methodologies - the design processDesign knowledge – reuse of existing solutionsThe product model – properties, components and structuresRepresentations - multiple abstraction levels:

purpose – use – function – form – structure – performancedual view: requirement versus fulfilment

Applications based on product modelsGraphic presentations – multiple viewsModel manipulation – virtual RealityProduct configuratorsProduct documentation



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Topic: Product Models and The Building Model

Building Model

Model of StandardObject/End-product

-Finalised

Model of StandardElement/Product

-Parameterised

Model of Structured Product-

Finalised/Parameterised/Configurable

Proprietary ProductFamily Model

Open ProductFamily Model

SupplierConfiguration Designer Configuration



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Object Models as the foundation

Models are built from objectsObject properties are specified

GeometryMaterialsPrices



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Building Model Design Tools – Libraries of Object Types

Ex: furniture



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Import of Product Models into Building Models

Libraries of object typesStandard object types are included in design systemsAdditional library object types can be insertedPreliminary design can be carried out by selection of such objectsRelationships between objects are automatically maintained by the tools

Insertion of external models of building objects and productsGDL based models – GDL interface is required

• GDL models are parameterisedIFC based product models – interface is required

• IFC models are not parameterisedProduct models based on the ISO-PLIB standard??



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Exchange of GDL Product Models

GDL objects can be formulated with parametersProduct families can be represented by GDL modelsEach product family can be represented in one modelEach end-product is defined by a set of parameter valuesGDL models can be imported into CAD systems e.g. ArchiCADObject-represented models can be build from GDL modelsGDL models can be integrated with larger product modelsA possible basis for product development in networks



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Industrial Foundation Classes (IFC)

A basis for building modellingIFC is the currently most dominating data model

Based on STEP/ISO10303Newest version IFC2x(2)Approved as ISO/PAS 16739Well accepted by leading parties in the industry

IFC defines a foundation for building designA hierarchy of object types (classification)Relationship types for linking objectsA large set of building object types are definedA large set of concepts are defined internationally



Kaj A. Jørgensen

IFC



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Building Modelling With IFC Objects

IFC Object TypesContain an initial set of attributesAdditional attributes can be defined – property setsAttributes defining 3D geometryAdditional attributes for materials, surfaces, cost, etc.

IFC based objects in the building modelBuilding models are created by selection of object typesSpecified by assigning attribute valuesStepwise specification can be performed to further detailObjects can be exchanged via a standard formatExport from and import into a number of building design systems

IFC is a foundation for developing product models



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Product Models – Towards Mass Customisation

Three forms of product modelsFinalised models

• All attribute values are assigned unchangeable values• E.g. special building objects, as-built end-products, etc.

Parameterised models• Values of a subset of the attributes can be modified• E.g. most building elements, windows, doors, beams, columns, etc.• Building products like stairs, gates, etc. could be developed• Often transformed to finalised end-product models

Configurable models – models of product families• Attributes as well as components and structure are defined• Can be reduced to parameterised or finalised models



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Product Models and The Building Model

Building Model

Model of StandardObject/End-product

-Finalised

Model of StandardElement/Product

-Parameterised

Model of Structured Product-

Finalised/Parameterised/Configurable

Proprietary ProductFamily Model

Open ProductFamily Model

SupplierConfiguration Designer Configuration



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Product Family Models is The Foundation

Product family models are often proprietarySuppliers perform the configuration to finalised product models

Building architects need parameterised or configurable modelsSome degree of openness is requiredWith open product family models, the designer can perform configuration

New approach: semi open product family models?The manufacturer can perform configuration to a certain pointThe manufacturer delivers a still configurable or parameterised modelThe designer can perform further configuration or finalisationEach manufacturer can secure his competitive uniquenessThe designers can maintain a higher degree of freedom



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Product Models and Product Family Models

PF

CP1 CPkCP2 CPn

PP1 PP2 PPk PPn

ProductFami ly

Configur edProduct

Physi calProduct

Con

figur

atio

nM

anuf

actu

ring

Mod

el W

orld

Rea

l Wor

ld



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Modelling of Products and Product Families

Basic conceptsProduct Model – the synthetic viewMore precise concepts: Product Family and Product Family Model

• Product family: set of end-products• Product family model: synthetic and generic model of product family• Product model: model generated from a product family model• Product: end-product manufactured from its product model

Product family modelKey issues: determination of properties of the end productsStructural view of product families

• Modularisation, modules versus attributes, functionalities



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Typical view: the structural view

P1 P2

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5

C1 C2 C4 C7 C8C3 C5 C6 C9

Product Level

Module Level

Component Level

P1 P2

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5

C1 C2 C4 C7 C8C3 C5 C6 C9

Product Level

Module Level

Component Level



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Product Specification: attributes versus modules

Attribute 1 Attribute 2

Module 2Module 1 Module 3 Module 4

Attribute 3 Attribute 4

Module 5

2 3 4 5

1

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11

Product



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Product Family Models

Attributes - product attributes and module attributesData types: numeric, boolean, string, etc.Domains: the set of possible attribute values

• enumerated values• intervals

Domain constraints: OneOf, AtMostOne, AtLeastOne, AnyOf, OptionalDefault values, optional

Examples related to doors: Door.Material OneOf [Wood,Plastic,Metal] Default[Wood]Door.Doorstep Optional [Yes,No] Default[Yes]Door.Handle AtMostOne [<list of handles>]Lock.Screws one of [0..10]



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Product Family Models

Relational ConstraintsDefine the solution spaceSet of relationships – relation expressions

• logical, examples:Door => LockDoor.Material[Wood] => Lock.Screws[8]Door.Material <=> Doorstep.Material

• arithmetic, example:Door.Hinges >= [2]

Inference engine is very efficient:the inference time decreases with increased number of user selections

Baan: E-Configuration Enterprise system – The Cava Language



Kaj A. Jørgensen

From Product Family Model to Finalised Product Model

The product family model can be developed from topLevel of detail is related to the need for configurationFurther details can be added simultaneously

A configurator can be developed based on this modelNormally configurators produce models of finalised end-productsThe product model may be public but the configurator is proprietary

It should be possible to generate public modelsSuch models could be parameterised or configurable on a lower levelWith constraint based configurators it is easy to generate such modelsThe already made configuration decisions can simply be added to the original constraints as additional constraintsA derived configurator can be generated



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Sample development projects in Denmark

F. L. Smidt & Co.Product: cement manufacturing plantsConfigurator for tender support

Aalborg Industries – www.aalborg-industries.comProduct: modular boilersConfigurator for calculation of budget cost

Demex Electric – www.demex-electric.dkProduct: electric control panelsProduct configurator for layout and component selection

TriaxProduct: Parabolic antennas



Kaj A. Jørgensen



Kaj A. Jørgensen

American Power Conversion (APC) www.apcc.com

“End-to-end Availability Solutions for Data Networks”APC provides power protection, environmental control and site monitoring services that are designed to proactively identify and correct problems before downtime occurs.



Kaj A. Jørgensen

APC: Product Selector/Configurator

SolutionsSimple UPS accessories Configurator Complex Solution Configurator

Cable Selector Service Selector



Kaj A. Jørgensen

APC: Results / Outcome

*Qualification

of leadNeeds

AssessmentOrder

Configuration Quote

Generation

Time (Hour)

12

8

4

16

Build &Ship Install



Kaj A. Jørgensen

Conclusion

Product Modelling - A Strategic Research AreaBuilding Modelling: Industrial Foundation Classes (IFC)Product Models – Towards Mass Customisation

Finalised – parameterised – configurableA need for import of open configurable models into building models

Product Family Models – The Basis For Product ConfigurationObject-oriented representation of product familiesDefinition of attributes: data type, domain and domain constraintsDefinition of relational constraints

Balance between proprietary and public informationMakes it possible to provide semi-open configurable models

Product Family Modelling in The Construction Industry · Import of product models into building...

Documents

Transcript of Product Family Modelling in The Construction Industry · Import of product models into building...