A structure-oriented product data representation of engineering changes for supporting integrity constraints

Abstract

This paper proposes a product data representation that can express and enforce integrity constraints on product structure during engineering changes (M). The representation adopts and extends the structure-oriented approach for managing EC data. Tightly integrated with product structure, it will enable designers to maintain and exchange consistent EC data throughout the product life cycle. To support operations for ECs properly, the representation provides the data, operations, and event-condition-action rules for nested ECs and simultaneous EC application to multiple options. In addition, the EC objects proposed in the representation integrate the data and integrity constraints into a unified repository. This repository will enable designers to access all EC data and integrity constraints through the product structure and relationships between EC objects. The paper also describes a prototype product data management system based on the proposed representation to demonstrate its effectiveness.