Jing Cai’s research while affiliated with Mercedes-Benz (Germany) and other places

As a new CAx concept, Digital Factory points out digital design of product & virtual planning of production. In this context, feature technology builds up the entire CAx process chain in Digital Factory, and facilitates STEP based engineering data generation and exchange. The collaborative computer-aided machining process planning of a transfer line is an element in process chain of extended enterprises Automotive Engineering. In practice, it is an approach engaged by both OEMs and their long-term machine suppliers. Application of a CAD-based Digital Factory planning system to design a virtual transfer line needs planning standard data and exchange with supplier. This paper highlights STEP-referenced ontological data modeling approach in the standardized data exchange for collaborative machining process planning, discusses the aspects of its prospective application advantages in machining process planning by OEMs and suppliers for Powertrain production in Automotive Industry.

In order to support European industry in its transition process towards the knowledge-based enterprise a set of novel information-based tools for enabling knowledge, skill and data transfer is needed. Their design depends on the organic and functional enterprise infrastructure features and relations between the heterogeneous agents involved across the whole value added chain. This paper presents two approaches aiming at overcoming interoperability barriers arising in communication process among humans and machines. First one is an ontological approach, which focuses on computer-supported human collaboration and human-machine interaction by means of natural languages, enabling semantic independence of shared knowledge and data contents. The second one proposes an approach for machine data exchange and sharing, applying standards as highly extruded common knowledge. Full Text at Springer, may require registration or fee

The collaborative computer-aided machining process planning is an element in the process chain of extended enterprises in Automotive Engineering. Meanwhile in practice it is an approach engaged by both OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and their long-term machine suppliers. In general the form of collaborative organizations between them is based on the continuous work and data flows in machine building.