Managing Design Process Complexity: A Value-of-Information Based Approach for Scale and Decision Decoupling

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jitesh H. Panchal ◽  
Christiaan J. J. Paredis ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Farrokh Mistree
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Value Of Information ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Design Processes ◽  
A Value ◽  
Complex Design ◽  
The Impact

Design processes for multiscale, multifunctional systems are inherently complex due to the interactions between scales, functional requirements, and the resulting design decisions. While complex design processes that consider all interactions lead to better designs; simpler design processes where some interactions are ignored are faster and resource efficient. In order to determine the right level of simplification of design processes, designers are faced with the following questions: a) how should complex design-processes be simplified without affecting the resulting product performance? and b) how can designers quantify and evaluate the appropriateness of different design process alternatives? In this paper, the first question is addressed by introducing a method for determining the appropriate level of simplification of design processes — specifically through decoupling of scales and decisions in a multiscale problem. The method is based on three constructs: interaction patterns to model design processes, intervals to model uncertainty resulting from decoupling of scales and decisions, and value of information based metrics to measure the impact of simplification on the final design outcome. The second question is addressed by introducing a value-of-information based metric called improvement potential for quantifying the appropriateness of design process alternatives from the standpoint of product design requirements. The metric embodies quantitatively the potential for improvement in the achievement of product requirements by adding more information for design decision making. The method is illustrated via a datacenter cooling system design example.

Managing Design-Process Complexity: A Value-of-Information Based Approach for Scale and Decision Decoupling

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jitesh H. Panchal ◽  
Christiaan J. J. Paredis ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Farrokh Mistree
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Value Of Information ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Design Processes ◽  
A Value ◽  
Complex Design ◽  
The Impact

Design-processes for multiscale, multifunctional systems are inherently complex due to the interactions between scales, functional requirements, and the resulting design decisions. While complex design-processes that consider all interactions lead to better designs, simpler design-processes where some interactions are ignored are faster and resource efficient. In order to determine the right level of simplification of design-processes, designers are faced with the following questions: (a) How should complex design-processes be simplified without affecting the resulting product performance? (b) How can designers quantify and evaluate the appropriateness of different design-process alternatives? In this paper, the first question is addressed by introducing a method for determining the appropriate level of simplification of design-processes—specifically through decoupling of scales and decisions in a multiscale problem. The method is based on three constructs: interaction patterns to model design-processes, intervals to model uncertainty resulting from decoupling of scales and decisions, and value-of-information based metrics to measure the impact of simplification on the final design outcome. The second question is addressed by introducing a value-of-information based metric called the improvement potential for quantifying the appropriateness of design-process alternatives from the standpoint of product design requirements. The metric embodies quantitatively the potential for improvement in the achievement of product requirements by adding more information for design decision-making. The method is illustrated via a datacenter cooling system design example.

Model Selection Under Limited Information Using a Value-of-Information-Based Indicator

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Messer ◽  
Jitesh H. Panchal ◽  
Vivek Krishnamurthy ◽  
Benjamin Klein ◽  
P. Douglas Yoder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Value Of Information ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Materials Design ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Photonic Crystal Waveguides ◽  
A Value ◽  
Systematic Strategy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
True System

Designers are continuously challenged by complexity, as well as by the excessive instantiation and execution times of models, particularly in the context of integrated product and materials design. In order to manage these challenges, a systematic strategy for evaluating and selecting models is presented in this paper. The systematic strategy is based on value-of-information for design decision making. It consists of a (i) process performance indicator (PPI) to quantify the impact of model refinement from a decision-centric perspective and (ii) a method involving model evaluation. Using this method, a least complex but valid model is evaluated, and, only if necessary, gradually refined it until the most appropriate one is selected. The systematic approach is particularly well suited for integrated product and materials design, and all other scenarios where the perfect knowledge of the true system behavior and bounds of error are not available throughout the design space. The proposed strategy is applied to the design of photonic crystal waveguides for use in a next-generation optoelectronic communication system. In this paper, it is shown that the systematic strategy based on the PPI is useful for evaluating and selecting models particularly when accuracy of the prediction or the associated error bounds are not known.

Designing Embodiment Design Processes Using a Value-of-Information-Based Approach With Applications for Integrated Product and Materials Design

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Messer ◽  
J. H. Panchal ◽  
J. K. Allen ◽  
F. Mistree ◽  
V. Krishnamurthy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Value Of Information ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Materials Design ◽  
Process Performance ◽  
Photonic Crystal Waveguides ◽  
Design Processes ◽  
Embodiment Design ◽  
A Value ◽  
Systematic Strategy

Designers are continuously challenged to manage complexity in embodiment design processes (EDPs), in the context of integrated product and materials design. In order to manage complexity in design processes, a systematic strategy to embodiment design process generation and selection is presented in this paper. The strategy is based on a value-of-information-based Process Performance Indicator (PPI). The approach is particularly well-suited for integrated product and materials design, and all other scenarios where knowledge of a truthful, i.e., perfect, design process and bounds of error are not available in the entire design space. The proposed strategy is applied to designing embodiment design processes for photonic crystal waveguides in the context of a next-generation optoelectronic communication system. In this paper, it is shown that the proposed strategy based on the Process Performance Indicator is useful for evaluating the performance of embodiment design processes particularly when accuracy of the prediction or the associated error bounds are not known.

Designing Design Processes for Integrated Materials and Products Realization: A Multifunctional Energetic Structural Material Example

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jitesh H. Panchal ◽  
Hae-Jin Choi ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
David L. McDowell ◽  
Farrokh Mistree
Keyword(s):  
Structural Material ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Value Of Information ◽  
Integrated Design ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Model Design ◽  
Design Processes ◽  
Information Metrics ◽  
Sufficient Strength

We present an approach for the integrated design of materials, products, and design processes. The approach is based on the use of reusable interaction patterns to model design processes, and the consideration of design process decisions using the value of information metrics. The approach is presented using a multifunctional energetic structural materials (MESM) design example. The design objectives in the example include sufficient strength and energy release capabilities. The design is carried out by using simulation models at different scales that model different aspects of the system. Preliminary results from the application of the approach to the MESM design problem are discussed. In this paper, we show that the integrated design of materials and products can be carried out more efficiently by considering the design of design processes.

scholarly journals Building Capabilities Through Democratic Dialogues

Design Issues ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 80-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liesbeth Huybrechts ◽  
Katrien Dreessen ◽  
Ben Hagenaars
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Participatory Design ◽  
Design Approach ◽  
Railway Track ◽  
Alternative Futures ◽  
Design Processes ◽  
Self Organized ◽  
Complex Design ◽  
Developing Strategies

Designers are increasingly involved in designing alternative futures for their cities, together with or self-organized by citizens. This article discusses the fact that (groups of) citizens often lack the support or negotiation power to engage in or sustain parts of these complex design processes. Therefore the “capabilities” of these citizens to collectively visualize, reflect, and act in these processes need to be strengthened. We discuss our design process of “democratic dialogues” in Traces of Coal—a project that researches and designs together with the citizens an alternative spatial future for a partially obsolete railway track in the Belgian city of Genk. This process is framed in a Participatory Design approach and, more specifically, in what is called “infrastructuring,” or the process of developing strategies for the long-term involvement of participants in the design of spaces, objects, or systems. Based on this process, we developed a typology of how the three clusters of capabilities (i.e., visualize, reflect, and act) are supported through democratic dialogues in PD processes, linking them to the roles of the designer, activities, and used tools.

A Multi-Component and Multi-Disciplinary Student Design Project Within an International Academic and Industrial Collaboration

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friederike C. Mund ◽  
Anestis I. Kalfas ◽  
Reza S. Abhari ◽  
Yasemin Turcan ◽  
Jean Hourmouziadis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Aircraft Engine ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Student Interactions ◽  
Secondary Air ◽  
Industrial Needs ◽  
The Impact

The design of modern aircraft engines increasingly involves highly sophisticated methodologies to match the current development pace. International company relations affect the collaboration between design offices all around the world. An important part of academic mission of modern engineering education is to produce graduates with skills compatible with industrial needs. Education may readjust accordingly to meet the higher requirements. However, a realistic scenario of the design process of an aircraft engine cannot possibly be transferred one-to-one into the student education process. A unique attempt to overcome this discrepancy was the International Gas Turbine Project. Within this project, undergraduate students have designed the cooling system of the HPT blades for a 30,000 lb thrust two-spool turbofan aeroengine. This project was collaboration between the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of TU Berlin, the Turbomachinery Group of EC Lyon and the Turbomachinery Laboratory of ETH Zurich. It also involved mentoring industry professionals from Rolls-Royce Deutschland, MTU, SNECMA and Alstom Power. Similar to modern aeroengine company structures, the design tasks included multi-component, multi-disciplinary and international interfaces of different educational systems. The student teams considered various aerothermodynamic and mechanical integrity aspects of the design. Particular attention was paid to design of the compressor, the secondary air system and the HP turbine including blade cooling. The three Universities integrated the project differently into their education curriculum and approached the tasks with different levels of software involvement. In this paper, the technical details of the design process, and the different approaches adopted are presented. Besides the application of turbomachinery-related knowledge, the impact of student interactions on the technical aspects of the project is discussed. The interfaces, including information management and the involvement of industrial partners are also addressed. Team spirit developed between the students from an initial competitive behavior to a final feeling of sitting in the same boat. It was observed that increased effort was required from academic staff in comparison to the conventional academic instruction. Nevertheless, students greatly benefited from the social interaction and an early training-on-the-job tuned to current industrial needs.

scholarly journals Systems Engineering – The Hard Way

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
A R Edmondson ◽  
B Twomey
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Systems Engineering ◽  
Cyber Security ◽  
Ship Design ◽  
Life Safety ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Design Processes ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Safety Case ◽  
Marine Vessels

Ship designers, builders, owners, insurers and class societies are becoming ever more aware of the complex interactions of the various systems found on all types of marine vessels. Therefore a design process that acknowledges these demands and assesses the risks posed, and manages them becomes ever more important. This paper seeks to explore some of the, sometimes apparently, conflicting requirements that are placed on designs of new marine platforms and looks at methods that enable these elements to be expressed, understood and managed in the context of an integrated ship design. The demands placed on new vessels include a range of requirements that move away from being solely based around the traditional functional requirements; including the ideas of designing for ease of shipbuilders, operators and maintainers; and now acknowledging the need of a through life safety case, cyber security case, and full obsolescence planning. This becomes ever more complex when consideration is given to how these through life elements are practically managed, with a range of methods, none of which are without their own challenges. It is important to note as these demands are discussed that often a ‘solution’ in the truest sense does not exist and the management of risk becomes a balance between the expected risk, the practicable solution, along with the potential compromises to both programmes and cost. While these demands place huge constraints and drive complexity into design processes, the issues can, and regularly have, been further exacerbated when some of these, or other requirements, are introduced into the design or build phases of projects. Introduction of design drivers should not be undertaken lightly or without expected, and accepted, increases in required resources, both financial and calendrical.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Design Process of Green Children's Hospitals: Focus on Process Modeling and Lessons Learned

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M Bilec ◽  
R.J Ries ◽  
K.L Needy ◽  
M Gokhan ◽  
A.F Phelps ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Children's Hospitals ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Children's Hospital ◽  
Children’S Hospitals ◽  
Complex Design ◽  
Children’S Hospital ◽  
Design Requirements ◽  
The Impact

Healthcare facilities are among the most complicated facilities to plan, design, construct and operate. A new breed of hospitals is considering the impact of the built environment on healthcare worker productivity and patient recovery in their design, construction, and operation. A crucial subset of healthcare facilities are children's hospitals where the consequences of poor building system design and performance have the potential to seriously impact young lives with compromised health. Green facilities are not always pursued: they are perceived as difficult to build and costing more than equivalent conventional hospitals. This study explored the design process of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Penn State's Hershey Medical Center Children's Hospital to understand the critical steps and processes for green children's hospital design. Producing a series of process maps that identify the key characteristics in the complex design requirements of a green children's hospital, this paper reveals the importance of design process to design quality. More broadly, this research will help future project teams meet the complex design requirements of green children's hospitals.

Students’ perspective on participation in a co-design process of learning scenarios

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iolanda Garcia ◽  
Ingrid Noguera ◽  
Meritxell Cortada-Pujol
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Design Processes ◽  
Teacher’S Role ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Learning Scenarios ◽  
Teacher's Role ◽  
The Impact

The adoption of co-design processes involving teachers and students is considered a helpful strategy for developing learner-centred scenarios. This research includes students in the co-design of learning scenarios that are inquiry-based (IBL) and enhanced by technology (TEL). In this paper, students’ contribution to the co-design process is analysed, as well as the impact it had on them. The data was collected before and after the project by means of interviews and a questionnaire applied to eleven students from two universities (one blended and one virtual). The results show that the students’ main contribution has a relationship with methodological and organisational aspects, and that the main benefit they perceive is gaining a better understanding of the teacher’s role and the complexity of designing learning scenarios. The study also shows some of the drawbacks and challenges of a co-design process.

scholarly journals Design Margins as a Key to Understanding Design Iteration

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia M. Eckert ◽  
Ola Isaksson ◽  
Chris F. Earl
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Design Teams ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Engineering Change ◽  
Design Processes ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Design Iteration ◽  
Temperature Ranges ◽  
Parameter Values

Design processes are subject to many uncertainties. Changes resulting from the need to respond to external uncertainties are one of the main drivers of engineering change and therefore for iteration in design processes. Another important cause of iteration in design processes arises from the dependencies in design information which is being generated as part of the design process itself. At the beginning of the design process engineers need to make an informed guess about the values of parameters that they need and can achieve. These values are passed on to others, who base their decisions on them. Design decisions are distributed and iterative among design teams, customers and suppliers. Communicated parameter values are uncertain in two different but related ways. First, there is the confidence, precision and commitment that the designers have in the values they specify. Second there are uncertainties in the values that can be achieved with the technology the new design employs. These issues become particularly challenging when they span design teams, customers and suppliers as they iterate to converge on a mutually effective solution. This paper looks at this type of convergent iteration through an example from the aerospace industry, which illustrates how uncertainty in operating temperature at the beginning of the design process requires a thorough understanding of the temperature ranges that solution alternatives, at different degrees of maturity, can operate under. This paper argues that the key to managing convergent iterations lies in communicating the available ranges of parameter values and in understanding how design margins have arisen in existing technologies. These margins on product parameters provide potential performance which exceeds immediate functional requirements. The paper develops and formalizes the concept of design margins and argues that margins are included into products for a variety of reasons that are not always transparent to different team members. Analysis of margins enables design companies to reason in terms of ranges of values describing the scope for design change in meeting customer and supplier requirements without being forced into unplanned iteration loops.

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