Developing the 3D Mechanical Engineering Process for a Large Manufacturing Company

This Thesis focuses on developing the 3D mechanical engineering process for a Large manufacturing company. Several years back a new 3D software was introduced to three engineering departments, but without a process how to utilize this new software. Due to the lack of initially developed process, the company cannot utilize true benefits of new software, which results in overlapping responsibilities, quality issues and schedule problems. Therefore, the case company needs to develop the 3D engineering process to undertake mechanical engineering in a coordinated way. In this study, the case study approach and qualitative research methodology were utilized due to a complex and specific nature of the research problem and need for in-depth exploration of the phenomena. The research design of this Thesis consists of five pre-defined steps, three data collection rounds and specified expected outcome from each practical step. The data was collected within the case company through interviews, documentation analysis and workshops. In this study, the current state analysis was done first to get in-depth understanding of the current 3D engineering practices in the case company, which was followed by the literature review focused on identified weaknesses and subsequent proposal building. This Master’s thesis revealed difficulties in adapting a new software in engineering processes of the large manufacturing company. In the current state analysis, the key findings related to the lack of a defined workflow, inefficient distribution of roles and responsibilities for process development and support, and lack of communication and collaboration within the engineering departments. Based on utilizing the conceptual framework developed during the literature review and the stakeholder’s suggestions, the study proposes cross-functional improvements that the case company can use to develop and deliver an effective engineering work. By utilizing the proposed practices, the case company can improve its 3D mechanical engineering processes, develop a common standard for performing engineering work and in the long run reach the level where 3D technology can support engineering process’s performance using process reconfigurations, and allow analysis of environmental changes. This study shows the logic of building a new process in the cross-functional context on a local scale taking into account internal features of different departments and partly the impact of the global environment. The proposed practices are approved by the case company and will be used in the near future. At the time of the completion of the study, the company began to implement changes in accordance with the proposed action plan