Digital transformation through Model Based definition (MBD) – An Industry product life cycle perspective

Abstract

Due to technological advancements, the human lifestyle is keep changing with respect to the consumption of modern equipment’s and it is inevitable to catchup with the trends. For example, touch screen phones made a big game change in the consumption of mobile phones and its usage. Right after the invention of smart phones, the mobile phones are almost replacing many extra equipment’s and gadgets and even computers right now. Similarly, engineering trend like virtual reality, model centric manufacturing, artificial intelligence ...etc are demanding the way of engineering design to move towards model centric MBD and make the model as a Master of truth. Even though there are many initiatives towards model-centric engineering, many of the industries and their manufacturing are still using 2D drawings due to easy handling and traditional inspection and so on. But to achieve and ready for the industry vision of digital twins, digitalization and IoT, allocate 3D models as a single source of truth is an absolute necessary. This is a paradigm shift to many industries especially the OFE sectors as well. The goal of this project was to demonstrate the possibility and steps to implement with MBD based 3D models from design phase, to various life cycle stage of the enterprise till the model-centric CAD-to-CAM and CAD-to-CMM data interoperability in the company by taking an example test part. Also, to create implementation steps to help making guideline document in future for the organization in addition with the MBD quality checklist creation. It is understood that the industry is ready for the MBD implementation with few additional workflows, trainings, guideline document enforcements added with some extra investments. The thesis also lists the expected benefits, practical challenges, lessions learnt and future scope in the MBD and digitalization area. The study company is Baker Hughes a full stream oil field equipment company. Finally, as part of study, there are lessions learnt in the area of digitalization, MBD, organizational behaviours, leadership interpersonal skills and asset management topics