INteractive tool for increased knowledge content in the early stages of engineering design

Purpose and goal

The aim of the project was to test digital technology for interactive processes in the early stages of a development process. The goal of the project was to answer the hypothesis ´Is a digital tool feasible in the development of a manufacturer´s competitiveness, and to show how the results can be used.´ The hypothesis has been tested on digital tools to configure cabling of AB Kontaktpressning and the hypothesis is considered partly proven.

Results and expected effects

The results produced are: - Knowledge of customers buying cabling is collected - The process to request, quote, order, manufacture and supply cabling is mapped - Knowledge of cabling components have been collected - A simple mockup has been put together to communicate the knowledge to select cables - A configuration software for products was tested The outcome is that the configuration software works and can handle the configuration problem we wanted to solve

Approach and implementation

Data were collected through interviews with sales personnel, buyers and cable experts. Data was also collected by gathering some of the customers of AB Kontaktpressning and together with them mapping five different procurement processes and compare these. Customer challenges were identified and analyzed by the method ´Five why´. A configuration software was tested. To communicate knowledge from AB Kontaktpressning to Swerea IVF a simple mockup was put together showing how a hypothetical system should be designed. The result was then assessed by AB Kontaktpressnings experts