Engineering data management through different breakdown structures in a large-scale project

This document discusses the benefits stemming from managing different project breakdown structures with an engineering data management system. The structures discussed are project breakdown structure (PBS), assembly breakdown structure (ABS), as-built structure and hardware breakdown. Each structure is presented from the quality management point of view and a practical example of each of the four structures is given to illustrate their differences, and to show what kind of engineering information is to be stored in these structures. The main underlying case is that of CERN and its global, over a decade-long Large Hadron Collider project. The approach used for managing the new particle accelerator project is benchmarked against the way large-scale shipbuilding projects are managed. It is concluded that several structures are needed to manage complex system projects, and that linking information between structures plays a crucial role for the overall success of the project. Information technology and the WWW are envisaged to provide the means to manage complex structures among geographically distributed project organisations. (12 refs).