Data feedback in an integrated design-to-manufacture system

This work is set within the context of a research project on an information support system for design and manufacture. This involves collaboration of other research workers and the commitment in other specific applications within a software environment. The work is targeted at the design to manufacture of prismatic parts in a prototyping environment. The research work moves from the identification and requirement of dimensional and process analysis, through the specification of data structures within a product data model, through to the definition of a decision network and measurement graph for dimensional analysis, to the provision of verification checks and fault clusters for process analysis. The two analyses are centred on a common fault library. The two facilities to provide support to the prototyping environment have been developed and tested through an industrial case study. The essential role of these facilities is to reduce the lead-time involved in 'prove-out'. The facility embodies a generic approach of capturing manufacturing knowledge and data feedback functionality that closes the loop from manufacture to design.