A strategic approach to improve the development of use-oriented knowledge-based engineering configurators (KBEC)

Schäffer E, Shafiee S, Mayr A, Franke J (2021)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Procedia CIRP Curran

Publisher: Elsevier B.V.

Book Volume: 96

Pages Range: 219-224

Conference Proceedings Title: Procedia CIRP

Event location: Leuven BE

URI: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827121001050

DOI: 10.1016/j.procir.2021.01.078

Open Access Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827121001050

Abstract

The high complexity of today's automation solutions often raises integration costs to an uneconomic level, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Analyzing the total costs of automation solutions, engineering efforts account for the largest share. However, potentials for time and cost savings as well as quality improvements by reusing existing engineering knowledge are usually not exploited in industrial practice. In this context, knowledge-based configurators are the most popular expert systems and present an opportunity to automate the creation of customer-specific automation solutions. Especially for efficient knowledge reuse, constraint-based configurators seem suitable. However, existing methods for developing configurators focus on product configurators rather than on knowledge-based engineering configurators (KBEC). In addition, the necessary knowledge acquisition (KA) is still one of the major challenges in developing KBECs. Open fields of action include the definition of the optimal functional scope as well as the identification, prioritization, and selection of suitable knowledge sources. Another prerequisite represents the transparency of existing engineering processes and interests of all affected stakeholders. Therefore, this paper introduces a six-step approach enabling the development of use-oriented KBECs with the minimum required functional scope to reduce efforts for KA and thus overall development costs. Finally, the strategic approach is validated using the example of a KBEC for the concept planning of robot-based automation solutions.

Authors with CRIS profile

Eike Schäffer Lehrstuhl für Fertigungsautomatisierung und Produktionssystematik Andreas Mayr Lehrstuhl für Fertigungsautomatisierung und Produktionssystematik Jörg Franke Lehrstuhl für Fertigungsautomatisierung und Produktionssystematik

Related research project(s)

Modulare, offene und internetbasierte Plattform für Roboter-Anwendungen in Industrie und Service (ROBOTOP) June 1, 2017 - Dec. 31, 2020

Involved external institutions

Technical University of Denmark / Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) DK Denmark (DK)

How to cite

APA:

Schäffer, E., Shafiee, S., Mayr, A., & Franke, J. (2021). A strategic approach to improve the development of use-oriented knowledge-based engineering configurators (KBEC). Procedia CIRP, 96, 219-224. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2021.01.078

MLA:

Schäffer, Eike, et al. "A strategic approach to improve the development of use-oriented knowledge-based engineering configurators (KBEC)." Procedia CIRP 96 (2021): 219-224.

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