The Aviation Challenge of Wire Harness Design (EX)
2/1/2007
Bombardier Aerospace has defined a clear and effective vision based on extensive experience replacing manual processes for wire harnesses with integrated ECAD and PLM systems, across engineering, operations, and technical publications. Bombardier's vision targets one database for all functions, instead of each division having a proprietary database with no electronic interface between divisions. With the objective of clearing away all manual tasks and reducing errors, Bombardier wants to eliminate the physical mock-up, by flattening the 3D CAD models to generate the formboards/jigboards.
Significant change impacting the organization poses many challenges. Nancy Atkins surmounted those barriers by assembling a team representing both the business users and the IT organization, with direct participation from manufacturing, engineering wiring design, customer support, and technical publications; they were seen as experts across all domains. Throughout the program it became clear that you can never have too much communication.
Keywords: Bombardier Aerospace, wire harness, electrical system schematic diagrams, wiring diagrams, test, validation, physical mock-up, organizational change, intelligent schematic, electronic workflow & signoff