Product modelling

One of the most challenging tasks in the engineering profession is to develop new products that have the shortest lead-time, highest quality and lowest cost with optimal life-cycle consideration. The issue of product modeling is at the center of various new product development paradigms designed to meet this challenge, and, therefore, has received major attentions from application and research communities. Due to the fast developments of computer and information technologies and the increasing demands of competitiveness and productivity, the scopes and approaches of product modeling have evolved rapidly in recent years. This paper presents an overview of the state-of-the-art and practice of product modeling in terms of product models and process chains, and suggests some important issues for further investigation.