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Concurrent engineering in space and aerospace

A Sheffield Hallam University product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 26, 2002

Research has found that the successful application of concurrent engineering technology enables engineering teams in different companies or even countries to work together.

The latest findings of research between satellite manufacturer, Astrium and the Centre for Systems and Enterprise Engineering in Sheffield Hallam University's School of Engineering were announced to an international audience at a presentation during the Farnborough Air Show.

As part of a presentation entitled "Best practice - concurrent engineering in space and aerospace", Dr Elfed Roberts of Astrium outlined the results of the work undertaken with Professor Terrence Perera's team which includes MPhil student Craig Murphy.

The research has found that the successful application of concurrent engineering technology enables engineering teams in different companies or even countries to work together to design, assemble and test virtual prototypes of complex spacecraft designs, realistically simulating kinematic behaviour reflecting virtual product, zone and process throughout the product lifecycle.

The tangible benefits of this approach are better products developed much earlier via a robust risk mitigation strategy.

The business case for applying this virtual technology and 'lessons learned' was presented from Astrium's perspective.

The Centre for Systems and Enterprise Engineering won the contract with Astrium this February.

The team works with Astrium to build digital simulation models that replicate the satellite assembly process.

A key feature in this simulation included modelling the actions of human operators in detail, in order to identify potential improvements in the build process.

Astrium is the largest space company in Europe and specialises in science programmes, Earth observation and communications satellites and ground systems, navigation constellations, launchers and space infrastructure.

Sheffield Hallam University's Centre for Systems and Enterprise Engineering deploys the latest tools and techniques to improve both the overall performance of a business and its technological systems.

These techniques include; computer modelling and simulation, operations management, business process modelling, lean manufacturing and quality systems.

The centre has recently being working with companies including BAE systems, Sweden Post and Astrium.

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