An ontology-representation of the integrated product engineering model

DSM 2012 Proceedings of the 14th International DSM Conference, Kyoto, Japan

Year: 2012
Editor: Onishi, M.; Maurer, M.; Kirner, K.; Lindemann, U.
Author: Albers, A.; Braun, A.; Schmalenbach, H.
Series: DSM
Institution: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
Section: Management of Engineering Design Projects
Page(s): 359-369
ISBN: 978-3-446-43354-0

Abstract

Complexity is becoming a vast challenge in product engineering. Complex products necessitate even more complex engineering processes for their realization. Model-based approaches aim at reducing complexity by representing only parts of reality in reduced representations. In this paper we present a modelling approach – the Integrated Product Engineering Model (iPeM) – and describe how it can be implemented using an ontology representation. Hence, a formalization of the iPeM’s model elements, their attributes and their relations is pointed out and illustrated by an exemplary application. We show the potential benefit of the iPeM ontology to support complexity handling by deducing specific knowledge from the dependency network with rules and queries. This offers a basis for the development of sophisticated support tools based on the iPeM.

Keywords: Product engineering process, modelling, ontology, information management, iPeM