Creating the Basis for Process Selection in the Design Stage

Year: 1994
Author: Haudrum, Jan
Supervisor: Lenau, Torben
Institution: Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Page(s): 154
ISBN: 87-89867-13-0

Abstract

This thesis treats the problem of process selection in design. Through field studies and video tapings the ways in which designers select production methods today were studied. It was realised that designers often select production methods that are familiar to them, and that alternative production methods are seldom considered. Video-tapings were used to study students solving a design problem. The procedure of these studies (taping and analyzing) is described together with the results of the study and it is concluded that the method is an excellent tool to study how designers select production methods. Literature on the design domain and the production domain is reviewed and it is concluded that no theoretical basis tailored for the activity: process selection in design exists. Earlier research works in the field of process selection are not based on a design methodology. A systematic method for the embodiment design, where production methods are considered concurrently with function, material and shape, is suggested. This method takes its starting point in a process/material matrix, where all possible combinations are shown. By systematic consideration of these combinations, the designer will cover all process possibilities for his component. The thesis also treats the upper levels of the design phase and it is suggested that companies run research projects parallel to the product development projects. In these research projects production methods, new to the company, should be investigated for new product solutions.RESUMÉDenne afhandling behandler problemstillingen omkring valg af fremstillingsprocesser i konstruktionsfasen. Gennem empiriske studier er det undersøgt hvordan konstruktører overvejer og vćlger fremstillingsprocesser i dag. Det er blevet klarlagt, at konstruktører ofte vćlger de fremstillingsprocesser som de og virksomheden har tradition for at vćlge og dermed er fortrolige med.Video-optagelser er blevet anvendt til at studere studerende løse konstruktionsopgaver. Fremgangsmåden (optagelse og analyse) i disse studier er beskrevet sammen med resultaterne af undersøgelsen, og det er konkluderet at video-optagelser er et fremragende vćrktøj til at studere, hvordan konstruktører overvejer og vćlger fremstillingsprocesser. Relevant literatur om konstruktionsdomćnet og produktionsdomćnet er beskrevet og diskuteret og det er konkluderet, at der ikke findes en decideret teoretisk basis, som kan danne grundlag for forskning indenfor procesvalg, og at tidligere arbejder indenfor området ikke er koblet sammen med konstruktionsmetodik.En systematisk metode for overvejelse af fremstillingsprocesser i komponent design fasen er blevet udviklet og prćsenteres. Denne metode tager udgangspunkt i en proces/materiale matrix, hvor mulige kombinationer er reprćsenteret. Ved systematisk at overveje disse kombinationer sikrer konstruktøren sig at han overvejer alle fremstillingsmuligheder for den komponent han konstruerer.Afhandlingen behandler også de tidligere stadier af konstruktions fasen, og det er bl.a. foreslået, at virksomheder gennemfører forskningsprojekter parallelt med produktudviklingsprojekter. I disse projekter skal fremstillingsprocesser, som er nye for virksomheden undersøges og videreudvikles i forhold til virksomhedens produkter og produktløsninger.

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