A method of developing a product is provided that includes generating a digital system model (DSM) that describes the product and a manufacturing process for the product, and generating a digital twin (DTw) of an instance of a component of the manufacturing process, the DTw including a digital replica of the instance. The method includes receiving attribute data for attributes of process/process characteristics subject to sources of variation that affect product quality. The digital replica is executed with input of the attribute data, and thereby updating the DTw to replicate the instance of the component of the manufacturing process as performed. A data analysis of the manufacturing process is performed based on the DTw as updated, and the manufacturing process is modified based on the data analysis to reduce variability in one or more product characteristics. The DTws of multiple instances may be used to generate further improvement.

A design supporting apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a design change, and an output unit that outputs information indicating that the design change is able to be coped with in a case where the design change is able to be coped with through replacement of a tool or a component with respect to a facility in the current manufacturing line, and outputs information indicating that the design change is not able to be coped with in a case where the design change is not able to be coped with even through replacement of the tool or the component with respect to the facility in the current manufacturing line.

A work center for automated subtractive machining includes machine frame components, material and parts handling components, control components, and communications components. The machine frame components may include a fixturing system, a CNC, a column, a spindle, and a cutting tool. The material and parts handling components may include material handling robotics, machined part handling robotics, material viewing, machined part viewing, and racks for stock materials, tools, and finished parts. The control components may include robotics controllers, viewer controllers, fixturing control, and an interactive process plan automation control (IPPAC). The IPPAC may include process planning/editing hardware & software, process control hardware & software, a device command interpreter, CAM hardware & software, SCADA hardware & software, which may include SCADA supervisory control and/or SCADA data acquisition components, database hardware & software, and communications hardware & software.

A design and manufacturing system includes a multi-axis machine tool including a cutting head able to support a plurality of available tools and a part support, the cutting head and part support fully controllable in at least two axes, a design system operable using a computer to generate a 3-D model of a part to be manufactured, and a machine learning model operable using the computer to analyze the part to be manufactured to identify features and develop a manufacturing plan at least partially based on the multi-axis machine tool and the plurality of available tools, the manufacturing plan including a type of tool used for each feature, a feed-rate for each type of tool for each feature, and a speed of the tool for each type of tool for each feature.

A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for managing a product. An engineering product structure for the product is identified. The engineering product structure comprises parts for the product. A manufacturing product and process structure is created using the engineering product structure, wherein the manufacturing product and process structure comprises the parts and manufacturing information for connecting the parts to each other to form the product.

A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for managing a product. An engineering product structure for the product is identified. The engineering product structure comprises parts for the product. A manufacturing product and process structure is created using the engineering product structure, wherein the manufacturing product and process structure comprises the parts and manufacturing information for connecting the parts to each other to form the product.

A work center for automated subtractive machining includes machine frame components, material and parts handling components, control components, and communications components. The machine frame components may include a fixturing system, a CNC, a column, a spindle, and a cutting tool. The material and parts handling components may include material handling robotics, machined part handling robotics, material viewing, machined part viewing, and racks for stock materials, tools, and finished parts. The control components may include robotics controllers, viewer controllers, fixturing control, and an interactive process plan automation control (IPPAC). The IPPAC may include process planning/editing hardware & software, process control hardware & software, a device command interpreter, CAM hardware & software, SCADA hardware & software, which may include SCADA supervisory control and/or SCADA data acquisition components, database hardware & software, and communications hardware & software.

A work center for automated subtractive machining includes machine frame components, material and parts handling components, control components, and communications components. The machine frame components may include a fixturing system, a CNC, a column, a spindle, and a cutting tool. The material and parts handling components may include material handling robotics, machined part handling robotics, material viewing, machined part viewing, and racks for stock materials, tools, and finished parts. The control components may include robotics controllers, viewer controllers, fixturing control, and an interactive process plan automation control (IPPAC). The IPPAC may include process planning/editing hardware & software, process control hardware & software, a device command interpreter, CAM hardware & software, SCADA hardware & software, which may include SCADA supervisory control and/or SCADA data acquisition components, database hardware & software, and communications hardware & software.

A production management support apparatus includes a memory, and a processor configured to, in response to receiving information indicating a design change of a product, display an image including both first information and second information, the first information regarding a first configuration of a first plurality of elements in the product before the design change, the second information regarding a second configuration of a second plurality of elements in the product after the design change, perform display of inventory information of, among the first plurality of elements, a first element whose inventory is predicted to be generated due to the design change, receive time information indicating a time when the design change is executed, and based on the received time information, modify the inventory information of the first element into a modified inventory information of the first element.

A design supporting apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a design change, and an output unit that outputs information indicating that the design change is able to be coped with in a case where the design change is able to be coped with through replacement of a tool or a component with respect to a facility in the current manufacturing line, and outputs information indicating that the design change is not able to be coped with in a case where the design change is not able to be coped with even through replacement of the tool or the component with respect to the facility in the current manufacturing line.