Towards a Decentralised Approach to Modelling Connectivity in Complex Products

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Owolabi Ariyo ◽  
Claudia M. Eckert ◽  
P. John Clarkson
Keyword(s):  
Model Building ◽  
Design Structure Matrix ◽  
Support Design ◽  
Structure Matrix ◽  
Complex Products ◽  
Distributed Approach ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Connectivity Model ◽  
Vital Component ◽  
Effort Reduction

Connectivity models are useful aids to support design reviews but building the models is an extremely effort intensive process. Connectivity models help to minimise incidents of unexpected rework by drawing attention to vital component interfaces and dependencies. The uptake of connectivity models can be enhanced if effort burden associated model building is significantly reduced. This paper describes an investigation into the use of a distributed approach to building connectivity models as a means of effort reduction. The Design Structure Matrix is broken down into sub-sections which are L-shaped or cross-shaped. These sub-sections are referred to as modules of the connectivity model. The effort required for building a model is compartmentalised within the modules. In other words, the minimisation of model building effort is attained by distributing the modules such that each individual’s effort contribution is limited to within a single module.

Metrics for Assessing Coupling Density and Modularity in Complex Products and Systems

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Ho¨ltta¨-Otto ◽  
Olivier de Weck
Keyword(s):  
Singular Value ◽  
Equal Size ◽  
Design Structure Matrix ◽  
Structure Matrix ◽  
Complex Products ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Yield Values ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Modularity Index

The central role of modularity is becoming more and more apparent in design of complex products and systems. The question frequently arises how modularity can be measured. To better understand the degree of modularity, we developed two metrics based on a design structure matrix (DSM). The non-zero fraction (NZF) captures the coupling density of interconnections between components, while the singular value modularity index (SMI) measures the degree of modularity. Both metrics yield values between 0 and 1. These metrics are applied to 15 systems and products. We show that real products typically have NZF values between 0.05 and 0.4 and an SMI between 0.05 (very integral) and 0.95 (very modular). A randomly generated DSM population of equal size and density exhibits SMI values that are bounded in the range from 0.25 to 0.45. We conclude that neither a high degree of modularity nor strong integrality occurs accidentally; but are the result of deliberate design. In particular, we show a more integral design will emerge if a functionally-equivalent product is designed to be portable. The main advantage of SMI is that it enables analysis of the degree of modularity of any product or system independent of subjective module choices.

Analysis of Engineering Change Based on Product Development Network

2011 ◽  
Vol 314-316 ◽  
pp. 1607-1611
Author(s):  
Zhong Wei Gong ◽  
Hai Cheng Yang ◽  
Rong Mo ◽  
Tao Chen
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Design Structure Matrix ◽  
Complex Activity ◽  
Engineering Change ◽  
Structure Matrix ◽  
Manufacturing Enterprises ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Development Network ◽  
Motorcycle Engine

Engineering change is an important and complex activity for manufacturing enterprises. In order to improve the efficiency of engineering change, designers should pay different attentions to different nodes of product development network. In that case, a method of classifying the nodes was proposed. First, we proposed a method to cluster the nodes based on design structure matrix; then, we analyzed the indexes for evaluating the importance of nodes and studied the method of classifying the nodes of product development network; finally, the experiment of managing a type of motorcycle engine was employed to validate our method and it showed the correctness of the proposed method.

A risk-based framework with Design Structure Matrix to select alternatives of product modernisation

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Eduardo da Cunha Barbosa ◽  
Gilberto Francisco Martha de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Design Structure Matrix ◽  
Structure Matrix ◽  
Design Structure
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