B031740 - SUSTAINABLE PLANT AND PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT

English

Main objective of this course it to introduce students to the main concept of the product and plant lifecycle management (PLM), in its wider meaning, from a methodology and as well as a technology point of view.
In detail, the course aims to provide knowledge related to the integrated approach to the management of all the business processes distributed along the product life cycle ("from the cradle to the grave") and on the main concept retaled to the life cycle thinking.

Slide
John Stark, Product Lifecycle Management , Editor: Springer

The acronym PLM enables a holistic life cycle-oriented way of thinking through a set of principles, methods and tools supporting a more effective and efficient management of the life cycle stages of industrial products, from their design, to production, distribution, usage until disposal (ca3, ca5).
In its comprehensive meaning, PLM is a business approach based on collaboration and integration of people, processes and technologies, which aims to support the development of more innovative, reliable and sustainable solutions (products and services) in a shorter time.
From a managerial perspective PLM encompass a strategic management point of view where the product is the enterprise value creator; the application of a collaborative model and the adoption of a number of IT solutions for establishing an access-safe product information management environment.
The aim of the PLM course is to introduce students to the concepts and elements of PLM and lean product and process development, giving also the basics to run the introduction of PLM vin the industrial practice, approach problems and process improvement via lean thinking, with the ultimate purpose to grow a life cycle thinking attitude into the students (cc1, cc2, cc3, cc12).
From a transversal skills point of view, it will include group work aimed at creating design documents also with the aid of multimedia tools. These activities will be aimed at developing the capacity of independent judgment, analysis of international regulations and synthesis skills (ac1, ac2, ap1).

Knowledge and understanding
- cc1: The multidisciplinary normative, methodological, technological, and instrumental knowledge of the context related to the ecological transition of systems, services and products.
- cc2: The systemic knowledge of methodologies, technologies, and key aspects of the life cycle assessment of a product, process or service.
- cc3: The knowledge of technologies related to the end-of-life treatment of products for re-use, re-manufacturing, and recycling.
- cc12 Knowledge of elements of business management and the related decision-making and organisational processes, also with reference to innovation management.

Applying knowledge and understanding
- ca3: The ability to select and apply methods for the development of new processes, systems, and components.
- ca5: The ability to combine theory and practice to identify and solve multidisciplinary engineering problems, considering constraints, including non-technical ones.

Communication skills
- ac1: The ability to communicate and transfer information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialists and non-specialists.
- ac2: The ability to professionally present problems, solutions, analyses and results through written reports and verbal presentations.

Learning skills
- ap1: The capacity for continuous and autonomous learning, and self-updating in the relevant engineering area.

No prerequisite

The course will be delivered in blended mode.
Multimedia material will be used for learning in asynchronous mode, followed by collegial moments of discussion, lectures, workgroup and development of a final document.

The final examination will consist of an oral exam, where students will present a previously completed document and answer some theory questions.

All material will be provided on line.
Supporting books and references will also be suggested throughout the course. In-class exercises and teamwork will be used to facilitate advanced learning of PLM material and concepts.

Expected results from Product Life Cycle Management Class are related to (ac1, ac2, ap1, cc1, cc2, cc3, cc12, ca3, ca5):

- Understand - provide students with the prevalent knowledge in the field of PLM and Life Cycle Thinking from a theoretical and practical side to show how these aspects reflects on real business. The students are expected to gain general knowledge on PLM and life cycle thinking.

- Identify - students, will gain general knowledge needed to understand PLM, and will be provided with specific knowledge on trends and approaches existing in effective and advanced PLM implementation solutions from industry, such as lean product and process development. Students will be expected to be able to identify how specific approaches enable and impact life cycle thinking within enterprises.

- Design - most importantly, students will be provided with the ability to acquire and develop a critical thinking attitude in business process understanding and problem solving. This will be achieved through a continuous link between in class theoretical applications and real world applications, as well as challenges proposed to students to be addressed in class via exercises, serious games, projects and teamwork activities.

The knowledge of information technologies, the role they play in supporting the management of the product life cycle and their limits of applicability will then be verified. The ability to choose and apply appropriate modeling methods and to manage changes will also be evaluated.