Managing Materials Information for Design Innovation, Material Selection, and Maximizing Product Life

Materials and the information that describes them are becoming increasingly complex. This is particularly true as you consider the different nature of that information that describes them at the various stages of the design lifecycle. This highlights the need for a robust approach to managing and using materials information. A flexible information architecture is needed to handle everything from raw test data, via specification and design data, to information pertinent to end-of-life. And this materials data must be fully linked with appropriate metadata, ensuring traceability. Maximizing the use of this complete range of information can help drive innovation and inform materials selection processes and trade studies. Drawing on many years of experience working with the Materials Data Management Consortium, a group of highly materials-oriented commercial and government organizations in multiple sectors (including aerospace, defense, energy, oil, and gas), this paper will look at the benefits of a best practice materials information management system.  Examples include how traceable Lifing Data can be derived from accurate materials property and specification data, combined with clear reporting on restricted substance or material obsolescence risk.