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.

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.

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.

Development of similarity evaluation method between virtual and actual clothing

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 743-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seo Hyo Kim ◽  
Sungmin Kim ◽  
Chang Kyu Park
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Objective Evaluation ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Garment Design ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Significant Factors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a similarity evaluation method between virtual and actual clothing. Design/methodology/approach The paper analyzes the subjective and objective evaluation results of virtual and actual clothing. Findings In this paper, significant factors affecting the evaluation of similarity between actual and virtual clothing have been found. Research limitations/implications Evaluation experiment was performed only for a skirt. However, the method can be easily applied for other types of garments. Practical implications The evaluation of similarity between actual and virtual garment will be facilitated. Social implications The garment design process can be facilitated by simulating garments in virtual space. Originality/value There has not been any quantitative evaluation method for the similarity of virtual and actual garment.

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.

Testing the production efficiency of the investment sector in Kuwait using two-stage approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-123
Author(s):  
Abdulwahab Alsarhan ◽  
Nayef Al-Shammari ◽  
Mohammad Alenezi
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Efficiency Score ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Investment Companies

Purpose – Testing the efficiency in the economy has been highly pronounced since the financial crisis in 2008, as many countries have started to deregulate their economic sectors. The potential impact of testing efficiency is thus the key driver of world output and welfare. For this purpose, the main objective of the Capital Market Authority consists of more regulation of securities trading to boost economic efficiency. In particular, the purpose of this paper, is to examine the efficiency of 40 investment companies in Kuwait. In this study, the authors investigate the efficiency in the investment sector in Kuwait. Studying such a case is important for several reasons. First, the investment sector in Kuwait is affected by the World Trade Organization (WTO) conditions and regulations for more market liberalization. Second, most studies on efficiency have focussed on developed countries, such as those of Europe and the USA, with very few studies examining developing countries, such as Kuwait. Third, the study efficiency features is important in helping policy makers evaluate how the investment sector will be affected by increasing competition and then formulate policies that affect that sector and the economy as a whole. Design/methodology/approach – In this study, we use non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) to estimate investment companies’ efficiency in Kuwait. The authors test predictions of the model using yearly data for 2006-2010. In the analysis, the authors follow the two-stage approach suggested by Coelli et al. (1998). In the literature on DEA efficiency score measurement, this two-stage approach is the most prominent. This approach uses the efficiency score, measured by the DEA model, as the dependent variable in a regression model with explanatory variables that are supposed to capture the impact of external factors (Hahn, 2007). In the second stage, the authors used a Tobit model to investigate factors affecting the efficiency in the Kuwaiti investment sector. Findings – The findings of the second stage suggest that 2008-2010 had a negative impact on firms’ efficiency in Kuwait. The results confirm the substantial influence of the 2008 global financial crisis on the investment sector in Kuwait. In addition, the results show that factors affecting production efficiency in the investment sector in Kuwait include the total revenues, total assets, government participation, and Islamic firm dummy. These second-stage results are confirmed using different specifications of a fixed effect model, a random effects model, and a logit model. Originality/value – The results may be utilized by both monetary authorities and policy makers in establishing the general economic policy in the country. A number of policy implications may be derived from the estimates obtained in the current paper. First, the results show that the investment sector in Kuwait faced a sharp drop in its efficiency in 2008 due to the global financial crisis. This result tells us that there was a spillover effect of the global financial crisis in the Kuwaiti investment market, as companies in this market are highly vulnerable to global shocks. As a result, the investment sector needs to be regulated by, for example, encouraging more company mergers and acquisitions. Second, to meet the appropriate regulations in the investment sector in Kuwait, monetary authority in Kuwait should take into consideration the WTO conditions for more openness in the economic sector. Therefore, companies in the investment sector should be more efficient to compete with foreign investment companies that decide to enter into Kuwaiti market. Therefore, the need for regulations in the Kuwaiti investment sector is more necessary than before. Third, the study of efficiency features is important to help policy makers evaluate how the investment sector will be affected by increasing competition and then formulate policies that affect that sector and the economy as a whole. Furthermore, monetary policy can play an important role in influencing the efficiency in the investment sector. Therefore, the Central Bank of Kuwait should take a leading role in regulating abnormal financial activity in the Kuwaiti market.

Variant Design Method of Assembly Consisting of Different Types of Parts

2011 ◽  
Vol 201-203 ◽  
pp. 1460-1463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Sheng Xu ◽  
Dan Li ◽  
Meng Li Sun
Keyword(s):  
Constraint Satisfaction ◽  
Mass Customization ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Similarity Analysis ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Constraint Network ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Dimension Constraint

Variant design has been recognized as an effective measure to implement mass customization. Assembly consists of different types of parts. Its variant design is a profound issue need to be explored. Three aspects were discussed in this paper, namely, 1) part classification and dimension constraint satisfaction priority, 2) part reuse, 3) dimension conflict and variant postponing. Firstly, dimension constraint network among parts was constructed based on graph. And variant dimension transferring was exploited. Secondly, reusable part can be found from existing parts through similarity analysis. Thirdly, aiming at dimension constraint conflicts, variant postponing was proposed to concentrate variant design to few parts so as to reduce the number of variant part.

Dimension Parameter Transfer Method Based on Constraint Satisfaction Priority in Variant Design

2009 ◽  
Vol 16-19 ◽  
pp. 203-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Ping Shao ◽  
Yong Ping Hao ◽  
Yang Wang ◽  
Yong Xian Liu
Keyword(s):  
Network Model ◽  
Constraint Satisfaction ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Design Concepts ◽  
Product Variant ◽  
Constraint Relation ◽  
Design Systems ◽  
Transfer Method ◽  
Dimension Constraint ◽  
Dimension Parameter

In order to accommodate the increasing variety of costumers’ demands, manufacturers tend to produce different models of the same product by introducing variant design concepts that improve the flexibility of design systems. In this paper, an approach based on constraint satisfaction priority is proposed to solve the dimension parameter transferring problem. Firstly, product variant parameters and variant relations are analyzed. Secondly, dimension constraint relation network model is conceived and parameters constraint forms is discussed. Finally, a parameters transfer method based on constraint satisfaction priority is established.

Logic workflow structure modeling of product variant design and activity path generating

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinsheng Xu ◽  
Tiequn Huang ◽  
Cheng Wang ◽  
Jun Yuan ◽  
Fanfan Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Set Theory ◽  
Design System ◽  
Structure Modeling ◽  
Basic Process ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product Variant ◽  
Connectivity Probability ◽  
General Logic ◽  
Design Activities

Purpose Product variant design process consists of a series of asynchronous activities. These activities and the logic relations among them are important in constructing general logic workflow structure, which is the foundation of deriving an activity path for variant design business. Traditional process modeling approaches have not defined activities for product variant design and cannot describe the complex relations among these activities because of the lack of logic express elements. Thus, logic workflow structure modeling method is anticipated to meet the requirements of logic description and path generation in product variant design application. This paper aims to address these issues. Design/methodology/approach The paper identifies the variant design modes of different types of parts and defines their variant design activities. The procedure of constructing general logic workflow structure of product variant design is proposed. Simultaneously, the principles of inferring logic relations among activities are put forward based on their adjacency information and connectivity probability. A general logic workflow structure of product variant design is constructed. Based on this, activity path corresponding to a variant design business can be generated. The algorithm of generating activity path is designed as well. In addition, Boolean vectors of activity path, based on the functional contour matrix of polychromatic set theory, can be inferred, which denotes the functional character of activity path. Findings A general logic workflow structure for product variant design has been established, which comprises variant design activities and basic process logic nodes. The logic relations among activities can be inferred based on their in-degree/out-degree and connectivity probability. The function character of activity path can also be expressed based on the polychromatic set theory. Originality/value The combination of variant design activity and basic process logic node makes diverse variant design business descriptions possible in a general workflow structure. The proposed approach provides evidences for designer to plan and develop product variant design system effectively.

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.

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