3D CAD CTQ Annotation for PLM Quality Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions lack efficient techniques for accessing and tracing quality information throughout the product lifecycle, leading to difficulties in identifying and addressing design issues, tracing defects, and assigning responsibility, particularly in fields like medical device design where high product quality and regulatory compliance are critical.
Innovation Solution
Integrating critical-to-quality (CTQ) information into three-dimensional models, allowing for end-to-end traceability of quality information throughout the product lifecycle, including design, manufacturing, and post-production phases, using modeling logic to associate quality characteristics with features and storing them in a non-transitory storage medium, and leveraging this information for compliance, documentation, and quality control processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional PLM solutions are used without integrating quality information into 3D models, then the system complexity remains low, but the ability to access and trace quality information throughout the product lifecycle is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges quality information directly into the 3D model data structure by creating associations between quality characteristics and model features. This integration ensures that quality information travels with the product throughout its lifecycle without requiring separate tracking systems, thereby improving information traceability while avoiding excessive system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The 3D model serves multiple functions: it acts as both the geometric representation of the product and the carrier of quality information. By making the model universal, the system eliminates the need for separate quality management systems, achieving comprehensive traceability without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Reliability
If quality information is integrated into three-dimensional models, then end-to-end traceability of quality information is achieved, but the complexity of managing and storing model data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments quality information into discrete quality characteristics that are individually associated with specific features in the 3D model. This segmentation allows for organized, feature-level quality tracking rather than monolithic quality data management, making the system more manageable despite the increased information volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Quality information is nested within the existing 3D model data structure by creating associations between quality characteristics and model features. This nesting approach embeds quality data within the familiar model framework rather than requiring external storage systems, thereby improving traceability while leveraging existing data management infrastructure.
3Productivity
If CTQ information is stored with model data throughout the product lifecycle, then efficient access and utilization of quality information is enabled, but the storage requirements and data processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary association of quality characteristics with model features during the design phase, before the product enters manufacturing and service. This preliminary action ensures that quality information is already organized and linked when needed, enabling efficient access throughout the lifecycle without requiring extensive data processing or storage of redundant information.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments relate to methods, mediums, and systems for associating information, including critical-to-quality (CTQ) information such as minimum or maximum part dimensions, with parts in a three-dimensional model of a product. The information may be identified by performing a failure mode effect analysis (FMEA) against the model. The information is stored with the model data (e.g., in the form of an annotation applied to a model feature corresponding to the part in question). The model data may be consulted by product lifecycle management (PLM) applications during various phases of the product's lifecycle. Among other possibilities, the information may be used to automatically generate regulatory compliance documentation, to ensure product quality standards are met during a manufacturing process, or to perform postproduction quality monitoring of the product.