Why Product Structure Matters

Why Product Structure Matters
2009-05-08
Jonathan Scott
Principal Consultant, Razorleaf

Agenda
Product Development Trends
From the Field
Product Structure Defined
Where Product Structure Fits and Why
The Right Tool for the Job
Product Structure in Practice
Advice

Good product development practice includes:
Requirements definition
Design
Validation
Production

Design
Validation
Production
Reduced time-to-market is a universal goal

Design
Validation
Production
New products get more complex over time

Design
Validation
Production
New products get more complex over time
Many of today’s product development teams are multi-disciplinary and incorporate suppliers

From the Field
Large Team Challenges
“The left hand never could seem to figure out what the right hand was doing, and having 5 hands didn’t help. By the time we realized we missed something, it was too late to go back and design it right.”

From the Field
Time Challenges
“There was never any time to communicate – we were under such a tight schedule that we just had to throw it over the wall as soon as we had part of the design done. Our shop guys are good and I knew they would find a way to assemble it.”

From the Field
Product Challenges
“If the power guys and the controls guys could have shown me what they meant to do here, I never would have put the cooling where I did.”

From the Field
Digging Into the Problems
Where is product structure documented throughout design?
Can everyone look at the product structure?
How would two people discuss a product structure idea?
How should product structure changes be communicated?

From the Field
Conclusion
Where is product structure documented throughout design?
Can everyone look at the product structure?
How would two people discuss a product structure idea?
How should product structure changes be communicated?
Bottom Line:
Communication Tools are Lacking

Product StructureCommunication Tools are Lacking

Product Structure:a collection of items and item relationships sold or otherwise managed as a unit
item = manufacturable entity
item relationship examples include “belongs to”, “composed of”, and “is equivalent to”

Product Structure:a collection of items and item relationships sold or otherwise managed as a unit
Product Structuring:process of breaking-down an end-item unit into logical substructures

Product Structure Meaning
the framework for product data through a lifecycle

Where Product Structure Fits
Design
Validation
Production

Product structuring
Design
Product structuring
Validation
Product structuring
Production
Product structuring

Product structuring
Design
Validation
Production

How Product Structure Can Help
Division of responsibility
Communication/change hub

Text manipulation:Word, WordPerfect

Text manipulation: Word, WordPerfect
Spatial relations:CATIA

Spatial relations: CATIA
Mathematical calculation:Excel, Lotus 1-2-3

Spatial relations: CATIA
Mathematical calculation: Excel, Lotus 1-2-3
Logical structure manipulation:……

Product Structure and 3D CAD
PROS
Detailed product structure can be driven by 3D CAD
Most designers are familiar with 3D CAD tools
Most products require some mechanical (3D) design

Product Structure and 3D CAD
PROS
Detailed product structure can be driven by 3D CAD
Most designers are familiar with 3D CAD tools
Most products require some mechanical (3D) design
CONS
High-level product structure is concept or function-driven, not geometry-driven
Product structure must be exposed to everyone as it evolves
Changing product structure may need to drive 3D CAD also
Structure comparisons are difficult
Baselines can’t be kept

Product Structure and PDM
PROS
Object-Oriented DB + GUI = structure manipulation tools
PDM tools allow product structure
Creation
Revision (Baselining)
Comparison
Derivation
Multi-CAD PDM centralizes product structure
2D CAD -> PDM
3D CAD -> PDM
ECAD -> PDM

Product Structure and PDM
PROS
PDM tools allow product structure
Creation
Revision (Baselining)
Comparison
Derivation
Multi-CAD PDM centralizes product structure
2D CAD -> PDM
3D CAD -> PDM
ECAD -> PDM
CONS
System nature of PDM prevents off-line work
Not all PDM systems treat product structure independent of CAD structure

Product Structure and MRP/ERP
PROS
Some ERP/MRP systems include PDM functionality

Product Structure and MRP/ERP
PROS
Some ERP/MRP systems include PDM functionality
CONS
Lacks baseline management
Disconnected from design tools
Needs layer to abstract design processes from production processes
Often cumbersome to use, hampers creative design processes

Specification

Sales Analysis

Quoting

Initial Structuring

Sales Estimate Merging

Overall Design Start

Division of Responsibility

Detailed Design Start

MCAD Design Evolution

Design Integration

CAD to EBOM

EBOM to MBOM

MBOM to Production

Central Change Hub

Advice
So What Should You Do?
Focus on product structure FIRST during development
Maybe second – right behind requirements definition
Well before doing detailed design work

Advice
Focus on product structure FIRST during development
Pick the best tool for the job at EVERY stage
Product structure definition
Detailed design
Production planning
Field service and repair

Advice
Focus on product structure FIRST
Pick the best tool for the job at EVERY stage
Use the tools to communicate across disciplines

Advice
Focus on product structure FIRST
Pick the best tool for the job
Use the tools to communicate across disciplines
Integrate your best-in-class tools
RM
CAE
PDM
ERP/MRP

Advice
How Do You Start?
Get management support
The project is going to need people
The project is going to need money
The project is going to take time

Advice
How Do You Start?
Identify your needs
Assess what’s already in place (CAD, ERP, etc.)
Identify what’s missing
Product Structure Management
Requirements Management
Digital Mockup
Etc.
Develop a case for why those are needsnot wants

Advice
How Do You Start?
Identify your needs
Identify your resources
Who else in the organization has problems like these?
Who has budget for the areas you’re trying to improve?
Which of your existing partners have expertise?
Is there upcoming work that might “fund” the project?

Advice
How Do You Start?
Identify your needs
Set priorities
What is most important to your organization?
What is most important to your sponsor?
What is the quickest “win” that can give momentum?

Advice
How Do You Start?
Identify your needs
Set priorities
Proceed in a phased approach
Taking on too much always kills a project
People like to be on the winning team – be the winner
Funding a successful project is easier than starting new

Contact Information
Jonathan Scott
330.676.0022 ext. 7133
Jonathan.Scott@Razorleaf.com
Razorleaf Corporation
http://www.razorleaf.com/NTCOE
Razorleaf is a professional services group that provides expertise for engineering and manufacturing organizations by optimizing business processes through the use of leading technologies.

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Why Product Structure Matters

by Razorleaf Corporation

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