How the Blockchain fosters E/E traceability for MBSE and PLM in distributed engineering collaboration

Abstract

The purpose of the research paper is to describe how the Blockchain technology can foster traceability of electric/electronics (E/E) information artifacts in product lifecycle management (PLM) with a focus on bridging the gap between model-bases systems engineering (MBSE) and product data management (PDM). Due to automotive development includes many parties, such as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, and new partners, a distribution mechanism for proclamation of changed information artifacts is necessary. The approach compares MBSE methods and identifies which information artifacts created there have to be linked with PDM artifacts. Practical implications for the exchange of data in engineering collaboration with multiple partners are assessed by a first proof of concept with a Blockchain prototype tested with a supplier. The originality of this approach stems from the application of the Blockchain technology in engineering IT, a meta data model to connect MBSE and PDM, and the facilitated inclusion of engineering collaboration partners by those means.