For recent years, there has been significant research achievement on the feature-based multiresolution modeling technique along with widely application of three-dimensional feature-based CAD system in the areas of design, analysis, and manufacturing. The research has focused on several topics: topological frameworks for representing multiresolution solid model, criteria for the LOD, generation of valid models after rearrangement of features, and applications. This paper surveys the relevant research on these topics and suggests the future work for dissemination of this technology.

In these days, the importance of design becomes increasing and the design aspect that customers decide to purchase products such as television, mobile phone is more important than functional one. And the progress of virtual reality technology enables us to feel the reality from the virtual prototype as the real one. In this paper, we introduce the collaboration design review system consist of MEMPHIS, CORE. We can create a realistic virtual prototype more fastly, conveniently and efficiently using MEMPHIS and carry out the design review through collaboration using CORE. As a result of this study, it would be possible that decision making can be done effectively at early stage of the design process.

For the robust exchange of parametric CAD model data, it is very important to perform mapping rightly and accurately between different CAD models. However, data model mapping is usually performed on a case-by-case basis. This results in the problem that mapping quality fluctuates very widely depending on the abilities of developers. In order to solve this problem, the concept of symantic distance is adapted and applied to the translation of parametric CAD model data in order to measure the difference between different CAD models quantitatively in a computer-interpretable form and systematize the mapping process.

A recent advance in RFID technology is one of the major technological drives in reducing cost in logistics, distribution and even in the manufacturing sector. However, currently the technology is practically accepted only in the area of logistics and inventory control. The characteristic of these application areas is that the technology is used in the controllable environment. In this paper, we discuss a case study of using active and passive RFID technologies to automatically gather process information in the mold factory. Active RFID tags are attached on the main parts of molds and their positions in the floor are tracked with the routers. We also discuss on the idea of using mobile device with RFID reader to inquire information for molds on the spot in the factory floor. The inquirable information includes 3D design data and basic mold data. The paper shows implementation results with hardware configuration for the testbed.

Modern manufacturing systems consist of highly automated manufacturing devices, and they are controlled by complicated PLC programs. To make sure the achievement of the control objectives of a manufacturing system, it is very important to monitor the dynamic system behaviors of the manufacturing system. In this paper, we propose a monitoring methodology of a PLC program based on the Software In the Loop Simulation(SILS), which makes use of the time gap information between PLC signals. The errors relevant with PLC signals can be found using the proposed methodology, comparing a normal PLC signal trajectory with a target PLC signal trajectory. The proposed methodology has been implemented and tested with simple examples.

Mass customization (MC) is a business practice that aims to provide customers with customized products and services at near mass production efficiency. To achieve the aim, a number of methods to implementing MC are proposed. However, most of them require changes in entire process of the company, which make companies hesitate to implement MC even if it is essential to survive. In this paper, we proposed alternatives to partially implement MC for quick adaptation of MC. The base line assumption is not to change the production lines. The pros and cons of alternatives are given by qualitative and quantitative evaluation. Especially, by giving radar chart analysis of the quantitative measures, we give insight on the changes in the business performance measures, such as time to market and cost. Proposed alternatives are based on sub-processes such as purchasing raw materials, production process changes and packaging for efficient logistics. In this way, companies are able to provide customized products with small changing of the current manufacturing system. The process and benefit of the proposed strategy is verified by real world cases of a Korean health food company.

In a finite element analysis of the metal forming processes having large plastic deformation, largely distorted elements are unstable and hence they influence upon the result toward negative way so that adaptive remeshing is required to avoid a failure in the numerical computation. Therefore automatic mesh generation and regeneration is very important to avoid a numerical failure in a finite element analysis. In case of generating quadrilateral mesh, the automation is more difficult than that of triangular mesh because of its geometric complexity. However its demand is very high due to the precision of analysis. Thus, in this study, an automatic quadrilateral mesh generation and regeneration method using grid-based approach is developed. The developed method contains decision of grid size to generate initial mesh inside a two dimensional domain, classification of boundary angles and inner boundary nodes to improve element qualities in case of concave domains, and boundary projection to construct the final mesh.

Modern engineering design problems involve complexity of disciplinary coupling and difficulty of problem formulation. Multidisciplinary design optimization can overcome the complexity and design optimization software or frameworks can lessen the difficulty. Recently, a growing number of new multidisciplinary design optimization techniques have been proposed. However, each technique has its own pros and cons and it is hard to predict a priori which technique is more efficient than others for a specific problem. In this study, a software system has been developed to directly solve MDO problems with minimal input required. Since the system is based on MATLAB, it can exploit the optimization toolbox which is already developed and proven to be effective and robust. The framework is devised to change an MDO technique to another as the optimization goes on and it is called a reconfigurable MDO framework. Several numerical examples are shown to prove the validity of the reconfiguration idea and its effectiveness.