Artificial intelligence in product lifecycle management

Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) technology receives extensive attention in the manufacturing field. As the core technology, it generates considerable interest among smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 strategy. Product lifecycle management (PLM) copes with various kinds of engineering, business, and management activities concerning a product throughout its whole lifecycle—from the inception of an intangible concept through the recycling of a finished product. In the context of smart manufacturing, this paper reviews various theories, algorithms, and technologies of AI to different stages of PLM (i.e., product design, manufacturing, and service). A structured roadmap is presented to navigate the future research and application of AI in PLM. This paper also discusses the opportunities and challenges of applying AI for PLM.