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Maurer, Maik S. • 2007
abstract: Product development of technical products is characterized by a steady increase of complexity. Particularly, modern business strategies focusing on customization ask for enhanced possibilities of complexity management. Common methods mostly address selected viewpoints of dependencies between domains (i.e. classes of similar elements of a system) and only provide limited support for the analysis, control, and optimization of complex structures. The thesis tackles these shortcomings and develops an approach based on graph theory for the management of complex structures in domain-spanning networks. The suggested Multiple-Domain Matrix supports the entire process of complexity management including the information acquisition, the network analysis and the derivation of specific actions. The application of the findings allows for robust product design, efficient project coordination and finally results in development time and cost savings.
The research presented in the thesis introduces an approach to complexity management that
focuses on the connectivity in objects of product development, i.e., the constellations formed
by existing linkages. This provides far-reaching possibilities for analysis, control, and
optimization of complex products and services in a holistic context, while the amount of data
remains manageable.
download: diss_maurer.pdf [1667.19 KB]
Kreimeyer, Matthias • 2009
abstract: To achieve a systematic and holistic analysis and improvement of an engineering design process, the thesis on “A Structural Measurement System for Engineering Design Processes” proposes a measurement system that makes use of complexity metrics to embody various patterns of the interplay of a process’ entities (e.g. tasks, documents, organizational units, etc.). These metrics are used to draw inferences about the process’ behavior (e.g. timeliness, need for communication, risks, etc.). The 52 metrics are supported by a meta-model for process modeling and a framework to select the metrics in accordance with the goals of the process analysis. The metrics embody the foundations of network theory and the management of structural complexity to generate a practice-oriented application.
To manage and improve engineering design processes in a methodical and systematic manner,
an important issue that needs tackling is their analysis, interpretation and goal-oriented
improvement.
download: diss_kreimeyer.pdf [11942.55 KB]
