Method and system for managing and validating product development

• US 7,684,886 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hoehne, Brian John, Sullivan, Andrew Donald, Muir, Thomas Gerard, Henninger, Franklin Harrison
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ramesh B
• Application Number:
  US11/896,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20090062952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 700 97- 98, 700/105, 707/203, 717/100, 717/170
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

A method is provided for managing and validating product development. The method may include obtaining a product specification for a product and identifying prior products that have capabilities within a defined range of the product specifications. The method may also include developing a performance specification based on the product specification and the identified prior products. Further, the method may include obtaining approval for the performance specification, developing the product according to the performance specification, and validating that the product meets the performance specification.

Claims

1. A method for managing and validating product development, comprising:

obtaining a product specification for a product;

identifying a prior product that has a capability within a defined range of the product specification;

developing a performance specification based on the product specification and the identified prior product;

obtaining approval for the performance specification;

developing the product according to the performance specification; and

validating that the product meets the performance specification.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

creating a technical summary for the product by analyzing the product specification;

storing the technical summary in a first database;

creating a performance contract based on the performance specification;

and storing the performance contract in the first database, wherein

obtaining approval includes obtaining approval for the performance contract.

3. The method of claim 2, further including:

creating first test data by simulating a first modeled product, the first modeled product being configured based on the product specification;

creating second test data by simulating a second modeled product, the second modeled product being configured based on the performance specification;

creating third test data by testing the developed product;

storing the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data in the first database, and

storing technical details of the simulations and the testing in a second database.

4. The method of claim 3, further including providing a comparison between the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data.

5. The method of claim 1, further including:

creating a technical contract including the product specification, the product specification indicating a desired performance characteristic for the product, and

creating a performance contract including the performance specification.

6. The method of claim 1, further including using one or more web-based forms to:

obtain the product specification;

develop the performance specification; and

obtain the approval.

7. The method of claim 6, further including building the web-based form using a data dictionary including standardized terms for the product.

8. A computer system for managing and validating product development, the computer system comprising a processor configured to:

obtain a product specification for a product;

identify a prior product that has capabilities within a defined range of the product specification;

develop a performance specification based on the product specification and the identified prior product;

obtain approval for the performance specification;

develop the product according to the performance specification;

validate that the product meets the performance specification; and

output the results of the validation.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

create a technical summary for the product by analyzing the product specification;

store the technical summary in a first database;

create a performance contract based on the performance specification; and

store the performance contract in the first database, wherein

obtain approval includes obtaining approval for the performance contract.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

create first test data by simulating a first modeled product, the first modeled product being configured based on the product specification;

create second test data by simulating a second modeled product, the second modeled product being configured based on the performance specification;

create third test data by testing the developed product;

store the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data in the first database, and

store technical details of the simulations and the testing in a second database.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a comparison between the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data.

12. The computer system, of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

create a technical contract including the product specification, the production specification indicating a desired performance characteristic for the product, and

create a performance contract including the performance specification.

13. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to use a web-based form to:

obtain the product specification;

develop the performance specification; and

obtain the approval.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein processor is further configured to build the web-based form using a data dictionary including standardized terms for the product.

15. A system for managing and validating product development, comprising;

a memory;

at least one input device;

at least one central processing unit in communication with the memory and the at least on input device, wherein the central processing unit;

obtains a product specification for a product;

identifies a prior product that has a capability within a defined range of the product specification;

develops a performance specification based on the product specification and the identified prior product;

obtains approval for the performance specification;

develops the product according to the performance specification; and

validates that the product meets the performance specification.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit further:

creates a technical summary for the product by analyzing the product specification;

stores the technical summary in a first database;

creates a performance contract based on the performance specification; and

stores the performance contract in the first database, wherein

obtains approval includes obtaining approval for the performance contract.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the central processing unit further:

creates first test data by simulating a first modeled product, the first modeled product being configured based on the product specification;

creates second test data by simulating a second modeled product, the second modeled product being configured based on the performance specification;

creates third test data by testing the developed product;

stores the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data in the first database, and

stores technical details of the simulations and the testing in a second database.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the central processing unit further provides a comparison between the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit further:

creates a technical contract including the product specification, the product specification indicating a desired performance characteristic for the product, and

creates a performance contract including the performance specification.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit further uses one or more web-based forms to:

obtain the product specification;

develop the performance specification; and

obtain the approval, wherein

the web-based form uses a data dictionary including standardized terms for the product.