Taking the Leap: The Methods and Tools of the Linked Engineering and Manufacturing Platform (LEAP)

Taking the LEAP: The Methods and Tools of the Linked Engineering and Manufacturing Platform (LEAP) shows how to use the LEAP methodology to organize all product lifecycle information needed to drive engineering and manufacturing processes, and also provides knowledge exploitation solutions to support design decisions. This book not only explains in detail what LEAP is and how to use it, but also provides LEAP case studies from sectors such as auto manufacturing and offshore engineering.

The intensity of competition in the global manufacturing industry has increased dramatically in the past decade, presenting challenges and opportunities to new operators and traditional centers alike. Using the latest ICT developments effectively is increasingly important in order to meet demands for mass customization, sustainability, and improved productivity. To achieve these goals, the Linked Engineering and manufacturing Platform (LEAP) was developed as an integrated information system for manufacturing design.

• Discusses how LEAP creates a new data environment for all stakeholders in the manufacturing industry, which will improve customization, sustainability, and productivity
• Devises an interoperability system to gather and coordinate digital data from machines and systems across the manufacturing supply chain
• Provides standards for the Internet of Things
• Includes case study data from companies at the cutting edge of ICT in manufacturing such as SAP, Volkswagen, and UBITECH

Dimitris Kiritsis is a Professor of ICT in Sustainable Manufacturing at the Institute of Mechanical Engineering at EPFL, Switzerland. He is the Chair of IFIP Working Group 5.7 Advances in Production Management Systems, a board member of Manufacture-CH, and was a member of the recently concluded EU-funded Linked Design project. His research interests include closed loop lifecycle management, lifecycle performance evaluation, and product-process modeling.