Concurrent Engineering in Real and Virtual Tool Production

Tool production is a widespread and indispensable part of every serial and mass production job. International competition and globalization require ever shorter time frames from idea to placement of the products on the market, and the time needed to produce the tools plays an important part in this process. A proper information system plays a crucial part in concurrent engineering, because it en ables greater reviewability of the production process and thus, greater overlapping of individual phases (Prasad, 1996). The first step in the re-engineering of a company's information system is gaining a thorough knowledge of the work process. This paper presents the methodology of analysis of information creation and information flow. The most important requirements are identified, and con crete solutions are presented for the creation of an appropriate information system. We have connected tool production and the develop ment of serial products and managed to reduce the time to product fabrication. In individual production, all phases must be closely con nected ; a complete toolmaking facility was therefore designed as a well-connected informational whole (Tavčar and Duhovnik, 1997; 1998). Concurrent work requires independent documentation of individual building blocks and data transparency throughout all phases, from preparation of the tender to manufacture. Expansion of the functionality of a product data management (PDM) system to include monitoring and management of production proved to be an appropriate solution for the majority of set requirements. A virtual toolmaking factory was set up to increase capacity during peak production periods. When the concept was tested in the Domel Toolmaking Factory, the average tool production time was reduced by 32%.