Designing CAx-process chains. Model and modeling language for CAx-process chain methodology

Product development and production processes are supported by software systems during the development and planning phases. The usage of these software tools during or prior to and post the different process steps is called CAx-processes. The combination of these CAx-processes form process chains, also known as CAx-process chains (CAx-PCs), which mirror the production processes virtually. The content of this paper introduces a solution for designing the software chains in conformity to the methodology for evaluation, analysis and optimization of CAx-PCs. The solution includes the definition of DSL expressing the model for CAx-PCs and the software prototype "CAx-process chain designer" for deriving the alternatives of CAx-PCs from the expressed model.