Exploiting collaborative product development in a PLM framework

The implementation of a PLM system represents a transformative shift in the product development environment, fostering a more structured and reliable approach to managing the product lifecycle. This underscores the importance of PLM education in training engineers, equipping them not only with theoretical knowledge of product development and lifecycle principles but also with practical, hands-on experience using PLM platforms. By integrating both conceptual understanding and applied learning, PLM education enhances students' skills in product data management. This thesis aims to implement a PLM platform as a supplementary tool for the teaching of product design principles, in particular to improve students' understanding and application of both product lifecycle management and collaborative product development principles. In the development of such a tool, Eppinger’s product development model was utilized for implementing the PLM platform. This model allowed for breaking down the implementation process into clear, iterative stages, ensuring that each phase was aligned with the specific needs of the case study. The implementation process included: requirement analysis, a thorough analysis of the Aras PLM platform, design and selection of an appropriate solution, and performing the configurations. An evaluation was then conducted to assess and improve the usability and effectiveness of the system. The results of the evaluation indicated that the application had a positive effect on teaching quality, with the potential for improvement in various parts of the system. Further analysis is recommended to confirm the outcome of this project with a larger sample of students within a classroom environment.