Abstract

This paper describes Purdue University’s efforts to simulate the Digital Enterprise through a cooperative effort with IBM and Dassault Systemes. The Purdue University Digital Enterprise Center will be part of a working model of the digital enterprise, the framework that enables manufacturers to manage their extended enterprise through a complete electronic environment, from product concept to production to customer delivery and support. The Center is endorsed and supported by Purdue University, IBM, and Dassault Systemes, which provided direct donations and grants for purchasing licenses of the Windows NT platform of CATIA Solutions Version 5, 18-IBM IntelliStation workstations, ENOVIA Solutions e-business software, Delmia digital manufacturing solutions, as well as installation and support services. These workstations will be connected to the existing CATIA seats in other laboratories on the Purdue campus, to simulate a complete digital enterprise environment.

The primary purpose of this innovative project is to provide education, for both academia and industry, in the study and development of the digital enterprise. The Center will support applied research to improve industry’s ability to develop new methodologies and software tools for implementing the digital enterprise. It will also teach students practical approaches to solving problems in a digital environment. This will help equip them with the necessary tools to enter a manufacturing industry well versed in the implementation of the digital enterprise and e-business concepts.

Introduction

Major changes are currently taking place in the area of product development and product data management. IBM and Dassault Systemes (DS) have been partners in supplying solutions to the CAD/CAM industry for 18 years. The industry has proven that, through computer simulation problems can be discovered early in the product definition when changes are less costly. Also, many industries are using different processes and systems to manage the product data from conceptual design to in-the-field service and they are looking at ways to improve data flow and stream line processes to increase their competitiveness. The Digital Enterprise provides the capability for companies to design and simulate products "virtually" across an integrated enterprise covering the entire life-cycle of a product, all without ever having to build a real prototype. This is achieved through advances in CAD, digital mock-up, virtual product modeling, virtual manufacturing simulation, web access, and other key technologies. As a result, companies are dramatically changing the way they do product design and management, including the integration of functions within an enterprise that, to date, have been either "outside" or at the tail end of the product development process. Much of this vision relies on e-business for data sharing.

An article in February 2000 issue of Computer Graphics World titled SimFactory 2000 showcases Ford, BMW and Boeing efforts to simulate the manufacturing process. The article shows a still image from a flythrough of a tire-mounting operation at an SUV line. The flythrough was done to evaluate the material-handling system. The article documents that the SUV line improved productivity by 30%, produced an extra 145 000 front axles between January 1997 and July 1998 at a cost avoidance of $10 million dollars.

Figure 1 is a conceptual representation of the Digital Enterprise as envisioned at Purdue University.

Figure 1 The Digital Enterprise Center Conceptual Model

Overview

Purdue University is an ideal location for a multi-discipline project to introduce students to this vision of an IBM / Dassault Systemes solution because it supplies engineers and technologists to many manufacturing industries that could benefit from computer simulation and data sharing.

Purdue University was founded more than 125 years ago with 39 students and 6 staff members. Today, it is a world-class institution of nearly 64,000 students and 3,500 faculty members, and is ranked among the top 20 best public universities in the United States. Its leadership and influence stem from diversified areas of instruction: students have 6,700 courses and more than 200 specializations to choose from within the university’s 14 schools. The School of Technology provides students with practical, real-world approaches to business and industry methods and systems in 13 different areas of study. The Computer Graphics Department is a unique program with over 500 students and 22 full-time faculty offering 4 degree options in animation and simulation, interactive media, construction graphics, and manufacturing graphics.

The research center, a $6 million project, will be part of a working model of the Digital Enterprise, the framework that enables manufacturers to manage their extended enterprise through a complete e-business environment, from product concept and production to customer delivery and support. The Digital Enterprise makes it possible for companies to create, manage, simulate and communicate digitally all of the information related to products, processes and resources.

Through the use of applied research, this innovative laboratory, located in the Knoy Hall of Technology, will educate both academia and industry in the study and development of Digital Enterprise solutions. As students learn practical problem-solving techniques, they will simultaneously help improve industry's ability to develop new methodologies and software tools for the future through Project Based Learning (PBL) activities. PBL is a learning technique where students work on real problems provided by industry as part of their coursework.

The center will also provide an environment for demonstrations, instruction and training for industry either on-site or by distance. Corporations will benefit by participating in collaborative projects specific to their needs, which in turn will provide them with graduates, co-ops and interns capable of contributing to the implementation of their Digital Enterprise and e-business initiatives. The center will also provide an environment for demonstrations, instruction and training for industry either on-site or by distance.

The Digital Enterprise Center will act as an interdisciplinary headquarters for applied research projects. It will network with other Purdue labs as well as high-tech start-up companies in the Purdue Research Park to represent the different stages in the life cycle of a product. This collaborative environment will bring together a team of experts in industry and leading faculty members from the university's Schools of Technology, Engineering, Science and Management. This is the kind of teaming that will provide the talent to enable innovative product development and manufacturing.

Digital Enterprise Computing and Software Infrastructure

Purdue's School of Technology, which is a recognized leader in technology education and produces more Bachelor of Science graduates than any other technology school in the nation, has provided a dedicated lab with 18 IBM IntelliStation workstations. The lab specifications for the Center include:

Workstations (currently 18 workstations)

• Single Pentium III Xeon at 550 MHz
• 1 Gigabyte of RAM (1024 MB)
• Dual Intergraph 4000 series graphics adapters
• Intergraph Level 5 Geometry processor
• Dual Flat Panel Displays
• 9.1 Gigabyte UltraWide SCSI hard drives
• 2 Gigabyte SCSI Jaz Drives
• 100 Megabyte Zip Drive

Network

• Up to Fully Switched Fast Ethernet (100mbps) to each desk
• Internet connection providing web serving for development projects and distance learning
• Isolated TCP/IP network allowing for custom system configurations
• Windows 2000 Server delivering data to a mixed network of clients including WindowsNT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Professional

IBM and Dassault Systemes have provided direct donations and grants for licenses of the Windows NT platform of CATIA Version 5 design and manufacturing solutions software, ENOVIA enterprise data management and e-business solutions software, and DELMIA integrated eManufacturing solutions software, as well as installation and support services. Much of the support and initial development has come from an IBM Applications Engineer who has been working on campus at Purdue University since late in 1999. Other software products available in the laboratory include Pro Engineer, Unigraphics, I-DEAS, Solid Edge, IronCAD, AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max, Alias/Wavefront, SAP, and software used for the design and support of e-business. The School also has a dedicated manufacturing laboratory where simulated manufacturing environments could be verified on real manufacturing equipment.

Industry Collaboration

A major goal of the center is to collaborate with industry on applied research projects that will promote the implementation of product lifecycle management solutions. The center will bridge emerging applications, such as ERP and engineering databases. The center will perform simulation and analysis for facility design, human factors, and material/work flow design and scheduling. The center will also provide a reliable test environment for the development of a virtual design and manufacturing laboratory.

The center is seeking collaborative partnerships with industries. The collaborative alliance will foster an environment for the further development of The Digital Enterprise through research and development activities and benefit the participating partners in the following ways:

The principle goals of the Center are to:

• Develop a seamless interface between the design and manufacture of products using existing and emerging hardware and software technologies.
• Create a "state-of-the art" working model and showcase of the digital enterprise.
• Provide education in the digital enterprise for Purdue students and industry.
• Provide a facility for the interdisciplinary study and development of the digital enterprise.
• Develop e-business solutions for the manufacturing industry.

The Center will support applied research to improve industry’s ability to:

• Create effective and manufacturable designs.
• Quickly and cost effectively create designs.
• Create designs with high precision and reproducibility.
• Develop methodologies for the implementation of the digital enterprise.
• Development of software tools, when necessary, to test implementation methodologies.

The Center will accomplish its goals by:

• Creating a laboratory to support the digital enterprise.
• Seeking collaborative partnerships and projects with industry.
• Seeking internal and external sources of funding.
• Developing an interdisciplinary team from industry and faculty from Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, and Management.
• Involving Purdue graduate and undergraduate students through "project-based learning" activities and applied research projects.

Value to Industry

• Graduates and interns who share the digital enterprise vision.
• Simulation of the digital enterprise and e-business.
• Demonstrations, education and training on site and by distance for industry employees, partners, and clients.