A Methodological Approach for the Identification of Context-Specific Reconfiguration Options in the PLM-Context

Current changes of traditional products towards intelligent, connected smart products require a fundamental adaption and enhancement of traditional Product Lifecycle Management approaches. In our previous activities we showed that lifecycle management approaches lack suitable methods and IT tools for smart products especially during their use phase. In particular the reconfiguration in the use phase has been addressed, as the characteristic properties of smart products enable a tremendous potential. As an approach virtual product twins were introduced in our previous activities in order to manage both virtual product models as well as product usage data across all engineering domains including environmental data. This contribution describes the core enabler, such as the reconfiguration lifecycle and virtual product twins for the reconfiguration of smart products during their use phase including the necessity of designing the architecture of reconfiguration options. The scope is the introduction of a methodological approach, which allows the identification of context-specific reconfiguration options.