Research on the information transfer characteristics of dimensions in the product variant design process

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-74
Author(s):  
Xinsheng Xu ◽  
Tianhong Yan ◽  
Yangke Ding
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Constraint Network ◽  
Product Variant ◽  
Transfer Characteristics ◽  
Transfer Capability ◽  
Variant Information ◽  
Key Enabling Technologies ◽  
Natural Dynamics

AbstractProduct variant design, as one of the key enabling technologies of mass customization, is the transfer of variant information among mating parts from the perspective of informatics. A dimension constraint network (DCN) among mating parts carries on the task of transferring variant information. What are the information transfer characteristics of dimensions in a constraint network is a fundamental issue to plan the product variant design process reasonably. We begin by showing the natural dynamics of the DCN from two aspects: structure and uncertainty. The information efficiency of the DCN was proposed based on its simple path to specify the information transfer capability of the network. Based on this, the information centrality of the dimension was developed by measuring the efficiency loss of the DCN after the removal of a dimension from the network, which describes the information transfer capability of this dimension. Further, the information centrality of a part was derived. Using a spherical valve subassembly, we calculated the information centrality of the dimensions in a constraint network. We determined that the information centrality of dimension is highly correlated to its out-degree. An approach to plan the sequence of the part variant design according to its information centrality was proposed. We calculated the uncertainties of the DCN and its cumulative uncertainties under different sequences of the part variant design. Results indicate that part variant design under the descending information centrality of the parts minimizes the uncertainty of the DCN. This suggests a new method of planning the sequence of part variant design.

An approach to generating the sequence of part variant design based on information transfer utility

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 186-199
Author(s):  
Xinsheng Xu ◽  
Jing Lin ◽  
Ying Xiao ◽  
Jianzhe Yu ◽  
Qing Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Transfer Path ◽  
Constraint Network ◽  
Product Variant ◽  
Dimension Constraint

PurposeProduct variant design can only be achieved after all its constituent parts have been implemented by variant design. It is necessary to plan the sequence of part variant design reasonably. The product variant design process involves a large amount of information transfer events at the dimensional level. A reasonable product variant design process needs to make full use of the information transfer characters of parts to decrease the uncertainty of product variant design process. The existing methods of researching the product variant design process mainly focus on resource constraint and activity logic. They are deficient, however, in information transfer resolution and uncertainty management. This paper aims to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachThis paper identifies the number of dimension transfer paths and the position of dimension locating within a transfer path as being the key factors affecting the information transfer role of dimension. Information transfer utility is proposed to measure the information transfer capability of dimensions and parts. Based on these, a two-stage approach of generating the sequence of part variant design based on information transfer utility is proposed.FindingsThe uncertainty of dimension constraint network is minimal during the product variant design process when parts are implemented by variant design under the sequence generated through a two-stage method based on the information transfer utilities of parts, as does the times of parameter transferring and iteration in dimension constraint network.Originality/valuePart variant design under the sequence of descending information transferring utilities can decrease the difficulty of implementing product variant design validly and also increase the efficiency. This suggests an innovative method to planning the product variant design process reasonably from the perspective of informatics.

Product Variant Design Based on Extensible Modular Method

2012 ◽  
Vol 174-177 ◽  
pp. 1788-1791
Author(s):  
Xue Mei Zong ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Li Ping Zhang ◽  
Hong Guang Ma ◽  
Yan Qun Huang
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
User Requirements ◽  
Engineering Analysis ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Manufacturing Enterprises ◽  
Set Size ◽  
Product Variant ◽  
Requirements Change ◽  
Structural Variables ◽  
Modular Method

Variant design is the main form of most manufacturing enterprises. In this paper, an extensible modular method is proposed to enable better and faster design. The structure module is set size inner-related, and then when the user requirements change, the key structural variables can be adjusted followed by the alterations of the driven sizes, also these alterations can be verified by the engineering analysis. Therefore, the product variant design process can be preceded effectively with the extensible modules.

Modeling the Design Process of Product Variants With Timed Colored Petri Nets

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianli Xu ◽  
Jianxin (Roger) Jiao
Keyword(s):  
Petri Nets ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Colored Petri Nets ◽  
Task Planning ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Product Variant ◽  
Design Activities ◽  
Design Process Model ◽  
Timed Colored Petri Nets

The design process of product variants involves complicated task planning that needs to leverage a number of design activities and resources. A comprehensive product variant design process model is imperative for capturing the semantics underlying product variants and subsequently supporting design process planning decisions. This paper applies timed colored Petri nets (TCPN) to model various elements of the product variant design process. The TCPN model performs as a generic design process platform from which alternative configurations of process plans can be derived and further converted to discrete-event simulation models for evaluation. A case study of car dashboard family design demonstrates that the TCPN design process model can effectively represent the elements of multiple design processes and support design task planning while leveraging design activities and resource allocation at the entire product family level.

The Application of Product Variant Design Based on Case-Based Design in the Development of Stone Equipments

2004 ◽  
Vol 471-472 ◽  
pp. 577-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Kun Wang ◽  
Xing Ai ◽  
Jin Sheng Zhang ◽  
Zhenya Wang
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Design Principle ◽  
Product Diversification ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Design Time ◽  
Product Variant ◽  
Resolution Model ◽  
Actual Design ◽  
Case Based

As the actual design process and CBD process have collateral corresponding relation, CBD accords with the actual design process of deviser. This paper studies the application of CBD technology in product variant design. The basic resolution model of variant design is established, and the instance of products variant design is presented. With the application of variant design principle, the design intensity will be lightened, and the design time will be shortened. Therefore the variant design could accommodate the requirement of product diversification and client orientation.

A Process Oriented Hybrid Resource Integration Framework for Product Variant Design

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuliang Li ◽  
Wei Zhao ◽  
Lichen Hu
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
System Structure ◽  
Resource Integration ◽  
Hybrid Integration ◽  
Integration Framework ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Product Variant ◽  
Tool Performance ◽  
Design Resources ◽  
Design Activities

Design resources such as design tools, knowledge, and data play important roles in the product variant design. The requirements for these resources as well as the resource integration mechanisms are evolving along the life-cycle based product design process. It is expected by designers that not only right design resources but also appropriate integration methods can be found and applied timely to realize design variations efficiently and effectively. In this paper, a hybrid design resource integration framework is proposed based on the design process and resource modeling in order to satisfy the evolutionary requirements for design resources in the process. The integration framework is divided into two levels, namely the abstract integration of virtual resource classes into task templates in the design process modeling and the concrete integration of resource instances into design activities in the design project runs. Based on the two-level integration framework, a hybrid integration mechanism including flexible and stiff integration models and three integration transition methods is proposed to adapt to the from-abstract-to-concrete design evolution process. The system structure and behavior models are given, according to the analysis of integration framework. A hypo-pneumatic spring design case is used to demonstrate the utility of the hybrid integration system. Design results obtained based on the resource integration tool and the traditional manual design approach are compared to assess the tool performance, which shows substantive improvements of design efficiency and efficacy.

Characteristic Part Family and Similarity Retrieval Mechanism for Product Variant Design

2012 ◽  
Vol 472-475 ◽  
pp. 609-613
Author(s):  
Min Pan ◽  
Sheng Fa Wang
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Sql Server ◽  
Part Family ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Similarity Retrieval ◽  
Product Variant ◽  
Feature Diagram ◽  
Retrieval Mechanism ◽  
Master Model ◽  
Characteristic Part

Characteristic part family definition, part family master model feature diagram and XML stored document of master model are given for product variant design. Then, variant design process of part family is elaborated, including searching similar parts and the similarity retrieval mechanism which are studied for the product variant design of part family. Finally, the standard part family and business part family are developed through Java, Pro/E, SQL Server and an example on product variant design is given to testify the validity of characteristic part family and similarity retrieval mechanism.

A Variant Design Method of Assembly Based on Tree Structure

2011 ◽  
Vol 421 ◽  
pp. 263-266
Author(s):  
Hai Xin Zhao ◽  
Fu Yun Liu ◽  
Ying Sun ◽  
Kun Xu
Keyword(s):  
Design Method ◽  
Sorting Algorithm ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Product Variant ◽  
Joint Coupling ◽  
Key Technologies ◽  
Transfer Method ◽  
Dimension Parameter ◽  
Product Dimension

In the current market demand of rapid response manufacturing, the product variant design technology is one of the key technologies. Product variant design principles and methods are first described. Then, product dimension parameter is analyzed and product dimension parameter transferring structure is studied. Applying tree theory to product variant design, a dimension relation driving-tree of components and parts is constructed and the significance of driving-tree statistics and a dimension parameters transfer method are presented. The methods and processes which are applied to variant design and the sorting algorithm of relations are described in detail. A parameterized variant design module integrated with SolidWorks was developed with VC + +. All the above mentioned methods and processes are verified by taking a joint coupling product as an example.

An Object-Oriented Modular Design Model Supported by Integrated Multi-Domain Knowledge

2011 ◽  
Vol 697-698 ◽  
pp. 785-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Li ◽  
Yan Qun Huang
Keyword(s):  
Machine Tool ◽  
Physical Process ◽  
Domain Knowledge ◽  
Modular Design ◽  
Object Oriented ◽  
Design Model ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Product Class ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Product Variant

To enhance the ability and reliability of product variant design, an object-oriented framework was constructed using an extensible module/product class for setting up a modular design model. A module/product in a class was identified as an object by encapsulating the involved information as properties and the transforming or interaction activities as operations. This extensible object was gradually optimized through communications with other objects and integrations of design knowledge in five domains. These include Customer, Functional, Physical, Process and Engineering, which is a new domain introduced in this paper. The programmatic framework was implemented and successfully demonstrated using some typical machine tool products.

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