Advanced Machine Service Support using Internet-enabled 3-D based Virtual Engineering

• Published in: International journal of production research 2008-06, Vol.46 (15), p.4215-4235
• Main Authors: Moore, P R, Ng, Amos H.C., San Ho, Yeo, Sundberg, Martin, Wong, Cb, de Vin, Leo J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0020-7543; 1366-588X; 1366-588X
• DOI: 10.1080/00207540600969790

In the era of globalisation, one of the key factors for manufacturing machine builders/suppliers to remain competitive is their capability to provide cost-effective and comprehensive machine service and maintenance for their clients at anytime anywhere. Previous research has highlighted the role of virtual engineering tools in the design and development lifecycle of manufacturing machinery systems. Virtual engineering models created during the development phase can potentially be used to provide valuable functions for many other tasks during the operational phase, including service and maintenance support. This paper introduces an innovative Internet-enabled three-dimensional (3-D) based virtual engineering framework that can be used for such purposes. Specifically, it addresses a system architecture that is designed to facilitate the tight integration between virtual engineering tools and a set of Internet-based re-configurable modular maintenance supporting tools. This system architecture has been verified by implementations using different toolsets atop of various Internet technologies (e.g. XML Web services and LabView's Datasocket). Implementation details and successful industrial-based test cases are also provided in this paper.