Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
DEVELOPMENT OF A FRAMEWORK FOR IMPROVING ENGINEERING PROCESSES
Pepe, Carla; Whitney, Daniel; Henriques, Elsa; Farndon, Rob; Moss, Michael
Type:
Year:
2011
Editor:
Culley, S.J.; Hicks, B.J.; McAloone, T.C.; Howard, T.J. & Clarkson, P.J.
Author:
Series:
ICED
Section:
Design Processes
Page(s):
417-428
Abstract:
The complexity of designing products such as gas turbine components leads to enormous difficulties in understanding where the main design process inefficiencies are. It is extremely difficult to decide which improvements will have the most significant impact for a company or for a specific project. Another common issue found in the Aerospace industry is a consequence of basing a new gas turbine design on a previous concept and is that most of the time people don’t question the overall design process. These issues, alongside a companies’ matrix organization, create difficulties in managing and improving the design processes. In order to overcome the mentioned problems, a framework has been developed and used in Rolls-Royce. This framework aims to assess and improve in a systematic way, complex product development processes at component or system level. The framework involves the use of Value Stream Mapping (VSM) analysis to identify waste sources in the design process, the use of Design Structure Matrix (DSM) to manage design iterations and interfaces complexity and process simulation to deal with the stochastic behavior and estimate and assess the benefit of potential developments.
Keywords:
