Today, work collaboration is normal practice in developing modern products. Engineering collaborative work involves a number of team members that need to share and exchange design ideas while working with engineering analysis tools such as mechanical computer aided engineering systems. This work presents the M-Sync prototype system that uses an active database approach to enable exchange of engineering information among distributed team members in a timely manner. The distributed data is fully accessible by the local member and is automatically synchronised between different places using a database management system that support event-condition-action (ECA) database rules. Only updates introduced at one location are distributed to other locations, thereby minimizing information transfer and enhancing performance. Members working at different locations can therefore work in a peer-to-peer (P2P) manner and interactively manipulate the same set of information at the same time.

A system has been developed to manage simulation information of manufacturing processes, such as mesh information, boundary conditions and process parameters. The goal is to enable information sharing and exchange to make it possible to simulate a whole chain of manufacturing processes, and thereby predict how a modification in one manufacturing process affects the characteristics of the final product. The system has been used to predict successful simulation of a cutting process using mesh information and process parameters. An object-relational database management system is embedded in the system that uses a conceptual EXPRESS schema as database schema. The database management system is lightweight main-memory resident and incorporates an extensible and object-oriented query language. Uniform storage using database technology enables information manipulation independently of any specific simulation tool.

Work collaboration is today normal practice in developing modern products. Engineering collaborative work involve a number of team members that need to share and exchange design ideas working with engineering analysis tools, such as mechanical computer aided engineering systems. This work presents a data mediation approach, using active database technology, which enables exchange of engineering information among distributed team members in a timely manner. The distributed data is automatically synchronised between different places using a database management system that support event-condition-action (ECA) database rules. Only the updates introduced at one location are distributed to the other locations, minimizing the information transfer and enhancing the performance. Members working at different locations can therefore interactively manipulate the same set of information at the same time

The usage of virtual prototyping has had great impact on the product development process during the last decade. It has evolved from mainly being applied to high-priced and low series products to include advanced analyses on everyday products This includes analysis of many of the processes that are performed in manufacturing of a product, such as cutting, welding and heat treatment. The focus of this project is to support the use of simulation tools for the manufacturing process with efficient information management. A system is being developed using database technology were it is possible to handle information prepared for and generated by simulation of analysis models for various types of manufacturing processes

The focus of this thesis is how simulation information, described by conceptual information models, shall be managed to support the simulation tasks performed within a product development process when using virtual prototyping. It is shown that the ability to simulate performance and manufacturing makes new demands on existing development processes and recognised methodologies. Within the scope of the present research work lies a case study of information flow, focusing on the engineering department of a smaller company. The findings indicate that information sometimes travels in unplanned ways, even though the company has a clear view of its communication and information flows. It has also been ascertained that the introduction of a simulation tool significantly decreases the lead-time. A number of prototype systems have been built using database systems together with conceptual information models to identify how database techniques can be used to manage information within the product development process. One of these prototype systems supports the management of engineering information associated with the simulation of manufacturing processes. The system uses an embedded object-relational database system, whose schema is based on a conceptual information model, to store and retrieve information and to pose object-oriented queries. A graphical viewer is also incorporated into the system that makes it possible for the developer to view the mesh information stored in the system. It is also shown how the system can be used to operate on and use the information in the database independently of any specific simulation tool. To demonstrate how database techniques can support distributed development, a system has been built where an active mediator database is embedded into an MCAE tool. Rule-based actions, provided by the database, are used to identify changes made within the MCAE program and transfer these to other sites. Each of the sites works as a peer and the embedded mediating databases at each peer synchronise the information. The management of information, using database techniques, thereby supports collaboration within distributed teams.

The success of engineering companies is highly dependent on how well product information is managed, engineered and communicated. From marketing through development to after sales activities, data needs to be accessible and used in the best way. Today, geographical distance, the need for close co-operation and data complexity are all natural parts of the working environment. Product modelling techniques are continuously evolving with new requirements and opportunities emerging daily. This paper will outline and discuss some of these trends, and at the same time present some of the areas where research is being carried out within projects in the Product Model Cluster in the national graduate school - The Swedish Engineering Design Research and Education Agenda (ENDREA).

This paper consists of a case study of the product development process at Indexator AB, manufacturer of rotators for heavy equipment. The process has been studied concerning the information flow and computer support in the engineering design department and its interacting departments. It is shown that the company has a clear view of how information flows and which computer tools they use in the different parts of the processes. The advantage of using computer tools for analysis and planning is seen. Ways of communication and information flows concerning the design processes can sometimes happen in unplanned ways. Lack of integration between the different computer tools leads to unnecessary regeneration of the product information in the different parts of the development process.