iDMU as the Collaborative Engineering engine: Research experiences in Airbus

Collaborative Engineering aims to integrate both functional and industrial design. This goal requires integrating the design processes, the design teams and using a single common software platform to hold all the stakeholders contributions. As a result of a virtual manufacturing project for the A400M Final Assembly Line (FAL), Airbus Military coined the concept of the industrial Digital Mock Up (iDMU) as the necessary unique platform to deploy Concurrent Engineering. Along 2013 Airbus Military has developed another research project, named CALIPSOneo, to implement an iDMU for the industrialization of the A320neo fan cowls. The implementation confirmed that the iDMU concept is feasible as the basis common platform for the development of an aerostructure. The experience and knowledge, derived from working in the implemented iDMU, allow concluding that the iDMU can be the engine empowering the Collaborative Engineering paradigm and additionally, it can be extended to comprise the entire product lifecycle.