Understanding Design Information Handling Behavior Using Time and Information Measure

1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod Baya ◽  
Larry Leifer
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Level Of Detail ◽  
Information Measure ◽  
Verbal Protocol ◽  
Computational Tools ◽  
Design Information ◽  
Information Level ◽  
Information Handling ◽  
Class Information ◽  
Activity Information

Abstract Results from six verbal protocol experiments conducted to understand and characterize the information handling behavior of designers during conceptual design are reported in this study. Information handling behavior is categorized in the following categories: informational activity, information descriptor, information subject-class, information level-of-detail and information level-of-abstraction. The amount of information handled in each of the categories is quantitatively measured using design information measure (dim). Insights gained from the results are discussed. These insights will guide the development of computational tools which will improve the conceptual design process.

A Study of the Information Handling Behavior of Designers During Conceptual Design

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod Baya ◽  
Larry J. Leifer
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Verbal Protocol ◽  
Amount Of Information ◽  
Information Handling ◽  
Tools And Methods

Abstract The research reported in this paper examines the design process from an informational perspective. The study is based on the premise that there is a need to understand and formalize the information generating, accessing and analyzing behavior of designers in order to build tools and methods which can be smoothly integrated with their technical and social work environment. Results from an experimental study, conducted using the verbal protocol method, are discussed. A measure for the amount of information designers handle has been explored. A framework for analyzing the information handling behavior of designers is also presented.

A model of the mechanical design process based on empirical data

1988 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Ullman ◽  
Thomas G. Dietterich ◽  
Larry A. Stauffer
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Level Of Detail ◽  
Cad Tools ◽  
Design Alternatives ◽  
Key Features

This paper describes the task/episode accumulation model (TEA model) of non-routine mechanical design, which was developed after detailed analysis of the audio and video protocols of five mechanical designers. The model is able to explain the behavior of designers at a much finer level of detail than previous models. The key features of the model are (a) the design is constructed by incrementally refining and patching an initial conceptual design, (b) design alternatives are not considered outside the boundaries of design episodes (which are short stretches of problem solving aimed at specific goals), (c) the design process is controlled locally, primarily at the level of individual episodes. Among the implications of the model are the following: (a) CAD tools should be extended to represent the state of the design at more abstract levels, (b) CAD tools should help the designer manage constraints, and (c) CAD tools should be designed to give cognitive support to the designer.

Dependence of Early Engineering Concepts on Information Characteristics

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willem G. Knoop ◽  
Ernest J. J. van Breemen ◽  
Joris S. M. Vergeest ◽  
Tjamme Wiegers
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Information Analysis ◽  
Experiment Data ◽  
Computer Tools ◽  
Conceptual Design Phase ◽  
Information Characteristics ◽  
Early Engineering ◽  
Activity Information

Abstract The expectations of computer tools to support the conceptual design phase are not yet met. An experimental approach to discover the use of information in conceptual design will give a realistic insight of the information requirements. This can be used to specify future computer support systems. A method to observe the use of information in a conceptual design process has recently been developed. The method has been tested and fine-tuned through the observation of 10 design sessions. Valuable empirical data resides from this experiment. Data has been analyzed in several perspectives. This paper presents the results of the activity/information analysis of the experiment in relation with the quality of the design concept. For the latter a rating system has been defined to quantify this. We have found a significant positive correlation of the amount of information that is communicated and the quality of the design. Furthermore a discussion is given on the relation between information and the activities of the designer. Analysis activities are more communication intensive compared to synthesis and evaluation tasks.

Framework for Generating Modularized Product Designs With Assembly and Variety Considerations

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saraj Gupta ◽  
Gu¨l E. Okudan
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Graph Grammar ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Design For Assembly ◽  
Computational Tools ◽  
Design Alternatives ◽  
Grammar Rules ◽  
Design For Variety ◽  
Two Alternatives

Conceptual design is found to be the most ambiguous and creative phase of design. There exist only a few computational tools that aid designers at conceptual design stage, and mostly designers rely on personal experience or experience of coworkers to generate quality designs. The proposed framework aims at generating robust computerized conceptual designs by incorporating Modularity, Design for Assembly (DFA) and Design for Variety (DFV) principles at the conceptual stage. Conceptual design alternatives obtained from the proposed framework are ranked based on minimum assembly time, and are composed of modules in a way that future changes in customer needs are satisfied only by replacing certain modules. The framework involves searching a design repository of components by using functional-basis and pre-defined graph grammar rules, to generate all possible conceptual design alternatives. These design alternatives are ranked and filtered using a DFA index, and top two alternatives are selected. Selected designs are modularized and filtered using a DFV index to obtain the best design alternative. This paper provides a detailed discussion of the framework obtained by amalgamating Modularity, DFA, and DFV. Working of the proposed framework is demonstrated with the help of an electronic toothbrush design example.

Integration of Conceptual Design and MOKA into CATIA v5: A Knowledge-Based Application for an Aircraft Y-Bolt Component

2012 ◽  
Vol 271-272 ◽  
pp. 974-980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pai Zheng ◽  
Víctor Hugo Torres ◽  
José Ríos ◽  
Gang Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Information Flow ◽  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Knowledge Reuse ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Design Information ◽  
Overall Design ◽  
Knowledge Based

The design process comprises the Conceptual Phase, the Embodiment Phase and the Detail Design Phase in which commercial PLM/CAD systems mainly support the latter ones. This situation causes the discontinuity in the overall design information flow: Customer Needs (CNs) - Functional Requirements (FRs) – Design Parameters (DPs) – Key Characteristics (KCs) – Geometric Parameters (GPs). There is also a lack of knowledge reuse in routine design process, resulting in large cost-waste of the overall design process. Aiming to enhance the continuity of the design information flow and facilitate the knowledge reuse, this paper makes use of a knowledge-based framework to integrate conceptual design tools: Quality Function Deployment (QFD), Axiomatic Design (AD), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and the MOKA methodology into CATIA v5 system. A knowledge-based application (KBA) on the large aircraft y-bolt component design is presented as a case study to validate the proposed framework. The result shows how this novel integrated framework and KBA system could benefit designers in a practical way.

Assembly and Variety Considerations During Conceptual Design

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saraj Gupta ◽  
Gu¨l E. Okudan
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Graph Grammar ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Computational Tools ◽  
Design Alternatives ◽  
Grammar Rules ◽  
Design For Variety ◽  
Electromechanical Product ◽  
Two Alternatives

Foremost step in the development of any electromechanical product is its design, and conceptual design is the most ambiguous and creative phase of design. There exist only a few computational tools that aid designers at conceptual design stage, and mostly designers rely on personal experience or experience of co-workers to generate quality designs. The proposed framework aims at generating robust computerized conceptual designs by incorporating Modularity, Design for Assembly (DFA) and Design for Variety (DFV) principles at the conceptual stage. Conceptual design alternatives obtained from the proposed framework are ranked based on minimum assembly time, and are composed of modules in a way that future changes in customer needs are satisfied only by replacing certain modules. The framework involves searching a design repository of components by using functional-basis and pre-defined graph grammar rules, to generate all possible conceptual design alternatives. These design alternatives are ranked and filtered using a DFA index, and top two alternatives are selected. Selected designs are modularized and filtered using a DFV index to obtain the best design alternative. This paper provides a detailed discussion of the proposed framework, and its working is illustrated through the design of a mounting system for holding a Variable Message Sign (VMS).

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