Behovsstudie för implementering av ett informationshanteringssystem i el-utvecklingen på Volvo Car Corporation

Sammanfattning: VSEM project and the need for a more efficient way of handling requirements and information are highly apparent. The overall objective of this thesis is divided into two parts: 1. To identify criteria/factors leading to a successful introduction of an information management system. 2. To develop an implementation process for a requirement management system – the first step towards a PLM system in EE development at VCC. This will be done through interviews with employees, a literature review and an analysis of studies of three earlier projects within VCC. The conclusion of this study shows the great need for change in work methods for designers handling information and requirements. An implementation process has been identified with guidelines on how to handle different phases of the process. Consequently, a process has been developed and as such, factors leading to success and criteria for a more successful changeover have been defined This is a Master of Science thesis commissioned by Volvo Car Corporation (VCC) in Gothenburg, Sweden. The author, Sara Molneryd, is a student at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm. The work was performed during autumn 2006 in the department of Electrical & Electronics Systems Engineering (EE development) at VCC. VCC is today a part of the company Ford Motor Company (FMC). FMC is a multinational co-operation between Ford Europe, Ford North America, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda and Volvo Car Corporation. This co-operation has established new kinds of requirements considering the need for a competitive and complex system solution for all employees at FMC. The focus for this thesis is the implementation process of a requirement management system (RM system), which is the first step toward an information management system (Product Lifecycle Management system (PLM system)) at FMC, and factors contributing to the successful implementation of this project. This thesis is limited to the department of Electrical & Electronics Systems Engineering at VCC only, which, as mentioned, is a part of FMC. The definition for PLM is as follows: “Product lifecycle management is an integrated, information-driven approach to all aspects of a product's life - from its design inception through its manufacture, deployment and maintenance, culminating in its removal from service and final disposal”. [PLM Development Consortium, University of Michigan, 2007] The demands of an information management system, such as a PLM system are immense in the automotive industry. Designers within EE development at VCC currently work with textual documents when managing requirements and other types of product information. This is time-consuming and inefficient. There is a great need of change from the manual work procedure into a computerised environment. During 2006, a global project called VSEM was begun at VCC with the intention of developing support tools and methods for designers within EE development at FMC. Implementing a new IT system within FMC is a difficult and complex process. It is hard to manage a global project, such as Vehicle Systems Engineering Management (VSEM), as it involves so many people who work with the implementation process. Employees within FMC have high expectations from the