Course syllabus for Product lifecycle management (PLM)

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameInformationshantering i produktlivscykeln (PLM)
  • CodePPU111
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPPDE
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyAutomation and Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design Engineering
  • DepartmentINDUSTRIAL AND MATERIALS SCIENCE
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 33112
  • Maximum participants80
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0120 Take-home examination 3 c
Grading: TH		3 c
0220 Laboratory 1.5 c
Grading: UG		1.5 c
0320 Project 3 c
Grading: TH		3 c

In programmes

Examiner

Go to coursepage (Opens in new tab)

Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Aim

The purpose of the course of is to provide an overview of how IT tools are used to create and manage products throughout their lifecycles, from identification of customers need to product retirement. In particular, the course focuses on the advanced use of CAD and PDM systems to rationalize the product development process.       

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • Describe the state-of-the art and important trends in the area of IT support for product realization
    • Explain drivers and challenges for PLM
    • Explain the critical role that PLM solutions play in today's organizations
    • Explain how decisions on product information will impact the success of a company
    • Identify and account for current future trends in PLM
    • Describe some leading companies PLM approaches
  • Describe the core functionality of course specific CAD tools and PDM systems
    • Explain how PDM systems relate to engineering tools and how they are used in the product lifecycle
    • Explain how PDM systems relate to other enterprise systems such as SCM and ERP
    • Describe and exemplify how PLM functionality can be used to facilitate increased information management efficiency
    • Describe different users role with respect to the PDM system
    • Demonstrate how a user works with a PDM system
  • Evaluate company-specific needs for PLM solutions and design PLM solutions for the company's product lifecycle management processes
    • Apply different methods for business analysis
    • Use a proper combination of methods in order to define and develop a strategic plan and an architecture for PLM
    • Explain the need to base a PLM solution both on business needs as well as on possibilities and constraints of available engineering tools and PDM systems

  • Use methods for information and process modelling as tools when developing PLM solutions
    • Account for motives and difficulties associated with development process and information modeling
    • Use UML class diagrams to document the contents of a PDM database
    • Use UML class diagrams to document product structures
    • Compare different methods for process modelling in order to be able to choose the right method in a particular situation
    • Use use cases, IDEF0 to model, analyse and improve product lifecycle processes
  • Implement and use engineering tools and PDM systems in integrated PLM solutions
    • Plan the development and implementation of a PLM solution
    • Specify and document the requirement, information, processes and system architecture of a PLM solution
    • Customise engineering tools and PDM systems according to implementation plan
    • Use CAD, CAX and PDM system
  • Be able to apply Systems Engineering principles to support the implementation of PDM systems.
  • Model, analyze, and design key product information management processes such as engineering change management, product structure management and configuration
  • Describe common organisational change management challenges regarding PLM implementation
    • Explain how such challenges risks impair the potential benefits from a PLM solution

Content

  • PLM overview (what, how, why) 
  • Basic functionalities of CAD and PDM/PLM systems
  • Digital product models
  • PLM processes
  • Configuration and product structures
  • PLM solution development
  • Information modelling using UML
  • Process modelling
  • PLM strategy development and implementation
  • Organisational change management
  • Knowledge management in product lifecycle
  • Systems engineering principles and methods

Organisation

The course is organized around a series of lectures and a project work.        

Literature

Saaksvuori, A. and A. Immonen (2004). Product Lifecycle Management, Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Digtally available through Chalmers library)

Lecture notes and hand out material. (Available digitally)

Examination including compulsory elements

For completion of the course the students must have at least a "passed" grade on a home exam, on the project work and attended the compulsory guest lectures. The final grade depends on the results from both the take-home exam (50 %) and from the project work (50 %).

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.