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Improved Output in Modular Function Deployment Using Heuristics

Borjesson, Fredrik S. • 2009

proceeding: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED'09), Vol. 4
section: Product and Systems Design
editor: Norell Bergendahl, M.; Grimheden, M.; Leifer, L.; Skogstad, P.; Lindemann, U.
pages: 1-12

abstract: In Modular Function Deployment, technical solutions are grouped into modules according to the product properties and the strategic intentions of the company. Statistical methods such as hierarchical clustering are useful in the formation of potential modules, but a significant amount of manual adjustment and application of engineering common sense is generally necessary. We propose a method for promoting better output from the clustering algorithm used in the conceptual module generation phase by adding Convergence Properties, a collective reference to data identified as option properties, geometrical information, flow heuristics, and module driver compatibility. The method was tested in a case study based on a cordless handheld vacuum cleaner.

keywords: modular products, Modular Function Deployment, module drivers, clustering algorithm, heuristic methods

Redesign Method of Manufacturing Technologies Based on Environmental Performance Evaluation

Mishima, Nozomu; Kondoh, Shinsuke; Hotta, Yuji; Watari, Koji; Yasuoka, Masayoshi; Masui, Keijiro • 2009

abstract: To achieve sustainable society, many efforts in reducing environmental impact of manufacturing have been tried. However, for engineers, enhancing manufacturing quality has long been the most significant goal. Therefore, to evaluate environmentally consciousness of manufacturing technologies, it is necessary to consider manufacturing quality. For the purpose, we have proposed a new indicator to evaluate products and manufacturing processes named "total performance indicator (TPI)". TPI shows a balance of manufacturing quality versus environmental impact and cost of the manufacturing system. The bottleneck process in enhancing product quality can be clarified, by calculating TPI of each process. This paper analyses an actual product and allocates quality characteristics to functional requirements of the product. Then, it quantifies the contribution of each process in creating the product value. A process doesn't contribute much in creating value and generating considerable environmental impact and cost should be improved. It is shown that a designer can evaluate and redesign manufacturing technologies, based on the result of this TPI approach.

keywords: Environmental impact, manufacturing technology, manufacturing quality, redesign, total performance indicator

Optimization in Mechanical Products Design: Use of a Coupling between Algorithms and Finite Elements Calculations for the Design of a Vehicle Frame

Varret, Antoine; Abboudi, Said; Gomes, Samuel; Serrafero, Patrick • 2009

abstract: In a traditional design, the steps are the development of a solution, followed by the design and industrialization. Finite element calculations solvers are used most often as a means of validation of the solution and not as tools to help to the solution development. Modifications resulting are costly to operate because they occur late in the design process. This paper presents an experiment of coupling between a finite element solver and a multi-criteria optimization algorithm for the identification of solutions in a case of designing a racing vehicle chassis frame. The proposed methodology is first tested on a simple example to verify the consistency of results.

keywords: multicriteria optimization, genetic algorithms, mechanical product design

Aesthetic-Aerodynamic Design Optimization of a Car Grille Profile While Preserving Brand Identity

Sareh, Pooya; Rowson, Jennifer • 2009

abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate how to combine the aesthetic quality with the engineering functionality in a design project while preserving the brand identity. It is aimed to develop a framework for decision making in the design of a specific product that can be used by designers simply and efficiently. The car front grille design is presented as the case study and the aerodynamic drag minimization is chosen as the functionality criterion of the design. A specific brand is selected to study its identity and a specific product associated with this brand is chosen to implement the approach. Finally, a framework is presented in the form of a table and a utility function which can be used to optimize the grille profile of the chosen vehicle multi-objectively.

keywords: Aesthetics, brand identity, aerodynamic drag minimization, multi-objective optimization

Formal Requirement Formulation and Synthesis in System Engineering

Brace, William Ainoo; Coatanéa, Eric • 2009

abstract: Requirement engineering is a specific branch of system engineering and includes activities such as eliciting, analyzing, verifying, and implementation. In software engineering, requirement engineering is one of the steps which might result at the end of the formal process to automate synthesis of code. Requirement engineering is also used to improve the rigor of the analysis performed, and to make the reasoning steps explicit. Such type of formal description has not been attained in system engineering. This is due to the fact that knowledge in system engineering is still more empirical and concepts are not defined with the precision and uniformity of software engineering. Requirement engineering has to spend the gap between the informal world of customer needs, and the formal world of system behavior. In addition, the role of computer in early design has to be intensified due to increase in productivity requirements and competitiveness. In this article, we provide an approach aimed at diminishing this gap by formalizing the needs for design progressively, and to intensify computer use by integrating our approach in SysML and formalizing the specification representation.

keywords: system engineering, SysML, formal requirements, model-based design

Specifying an Inclusive Model of Product-User Interaction

Mieczakowski, Anna; Langdon, Patrick; Clarkson, P John • 2009

abstract: In order to design more usable and accessible products and services, designers require quick techniques to better understand how people interpret and use different interface features. A triangulated study was conducted, including a literature review, an evaluation of existing models of product-user interaction and observations with twenty users of washing machines. The study investigated the formation of users' cognitive representations of products and searched for a simple and effective method for modelling product-user interaction. In particular, the study found that the appropriate representation of product-user interaction should consist of two elements: (1) information on the functional parts of products and how they work (declarative element) and (2) information on users' goals and actions (procedural element). The conceptual graph analysis (CGA) was identified as the most effective model for designers as it captures both elements of product-user interaction in one representation and it does so in a clear and simple manner. Further research will continue to evaluate other models similar in nature to the CGA model in order to find an inclusive model of product-user interaction.

keywords: Inclusive Design, Mental Models, Product-User Interaction, Conceptual Graph Analysis

A Model Based Approach for Conceptual Development of Industrial Product-Service Systems

Sadek, Tim; Welp, Ewald Georg • 2009

abstract: Industrial Product-Service Systems (IPS²) are characterised by the integration of investment goods (technical products) and industrial services along their entire lifecycle. Against the background of sustainable value creation, while providing a performance is set above the purchase of pure technical products, an IPS² constitutes a suitable solution. It can comprise any combination of product and service shares. Once such an offer has been planned, the IPS² concept development is responsible for generating principle solutions that meet customer-specific requirements. This paper presents a model-based approach to support an IPS² designer generating heterogeneous IPS² concept models in the early phase of IPS² development. The proposed modelling approach allows the combination of multidisciplinary solution elements on arbitrary levels of abstraction from different development perspectives. The heterogeneous IPS² concept modelling approach has been implemented as a software demonstrator and has been evaluated solving a typical IPS² issue.

keywords: Industrial Product-Service System (IPSS), conceptual development, heterogeneous IPSS concept modelling approach

Design of Product Architectures in Incrementally Developed Complex Products

Wyatt, David F.; Eckert, Claudia M.; Clarkson, P. John • 2009

abstract: This paper seeks to understand how product architecture arises and influences the design process, using a case study of a UK-based diesel engine manufacturer. Product architecture is defined as a combination of functional and physical structure, including definitions of interfaces between components and spatial layout, at the overall product level. In the case study the minimisation of novelty was observed to be a major factor, causing the majority of the function structure and function-to-component mapping to be carried over from previous engines. New technologies are selected at an early stage without being integrated into complete engine concepts. Architecture-level decisions are then made implicitly when carrying over elements from previous products and when cascading product requirements to the component level. Elements of product architecture continue to be defined over much of the New Product Introduction (NPI) process, countering the expectation that product architecture should be defined during early design. These results suggest that support for product architecture design should take account of its incremental and extended nature.

keywords: product architecture, complex product, case study, systems engineering, diesel engine

Computer Aided Size Range Development - Data Mining vs. Optimization

Kipp, Thomas; Krause, Dieter • 2009

abstract: Due to the growing number of demanded product variants, product family design gets more and more in the focus of research. Beside the development of advantageous product family structures the definition of size ranges is an important aspect of this topic. This contribution analyzes, which data mining and optimization methods are useful to support the definition of size ranges and how these methods can be applied to this task. Finally on basis of two practical examples it is examined, if these methods are useful to adapted size ranges better to customer demands and therefore help to reduce undesired overdesign.

keywords: Product family design, size ranges, Cluster Analysis, Evolutionary Algorithms

A Decision Support System Designed for Personalized Maintenance Recommendation Based on Proactive Maintenance

Huang, Ying; Gardoni, Mickaël; Coulibaly, Amadou • 2009

abstract: Product manuals play a more and more important role in improving customer satisfaction. Many kinds of product manuals are developed to support the product utilization during the life of the product. However, most of them emphasize on providing the different levels of detail and presentation format of information for different users, while do not emphasize on personalized maintenance. Moreover, as mechanical products become more and more complex, current methods such as Condition-Based Maintenance method show their limits, which leads to insufficient support for the maintenance phase. A new, dynamic and personalized maintenance document, involving proactive maintenance, is therefore proposed in order to deliver the maintenance support for very complex or highly customised products. In this paper we design a decision support system aiming to provide the personalized maintenance documents and the system is capable of combining prior knowledge and past experience of experts. Different maintenance activities are recommended for different users by taking into account different typical Utilization Conditions of each product instance.

keywords: Recommendation systems, personalized maintenance document, collaborative filtering, proactive maintenance

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