A Pilot Study of Engineering Design-Decision Methods in Practice

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Nichols ◽  
Andrew Olewnik
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Decision Method ◽  
Decision Methods ◽  
Future Work

Numerous engineering design-decision methods have been developed to assist groups of engineers in making choices within a design problem. However, while there are a variety of methods to choose from, there is no empirical data that exhibits which decision-method is best for specific phases of the design process, or that designers are willing to adopt particular decision methods. Due to this lack of empirical data, industry may not use certain engineering design methods since they do not have the resources or time to investigate which method would work best for them. This work presents the development of a framework to examine various engineering design-decision methods in practice. The framework is used in a pilot study with undergraduate engineering students which compares usage of Pugh’s Controlled Convergence (PuCC) and the Group Hypothetical Equivalent and Inequivalent Method (G-HEIM) to the results of an “informal” method (a group decision that is made without a formalized decision method). Results of the pilot study include documenting the emergence of decision “traps” within each group, assessing student perceptions about using formalized design-decision methods through interviews and surveys (critical to understanding potential barriers to adoption of formal methods), and insight into where formal decision methods are most appropriate within a design process. Finally, a number of changes and additions to the framework and study protocol are identified for future work focused on repeating the study with more participants and potentially in industrial settings.

Development of a DSM-Based Methodology in an Academic Setting

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
George Platanitis ◽  
Remon Pop-Iliev ◽  
Ahmad Barari
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Academic Settings ◽  
Task Durations ◽  
Random Disturbances ◽  
Process Convergence ◽  
Work Transformation

This paper proposes the use of a design structure matrix/work transformation matrix (DSM/WTM)-based methodology in academic settings to serve engineering educators as a facilitating tool for predetermining the difficulty and feasibility of design engineering projects they assign, given both the time constraints of the academic term and the expected skill level of the respective learners. By using a third-year engineering design project as a case study, engineering students actively participated in this comprehensive use of DSM methodologies. The engineering design process has been thoroughly analyzed to determine convergence characteristics based on the eigenvalues of the system followed by a sensitivity analysis on the originally determined DSM based on data provided by students in terms of task durations and number of iterations for each task. Finally, an investigation of the design process convergence due to unexpected events or random disturbances has been conducted. The obtained predictive model of the design process was compared to the actual dynamics of the project as experienced by the students and the effect of random disturbances at any point in the design process has thereby been evaluated.

Decision Methods for Design: Insights from Psychology

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos V. Katsikopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Utility Theory ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Design Concept ◽  
Functional Requirement ◽  
Decision Method ◽  
Decision Methods ◽  
Multi Attribute Utility Theory ◽  
New Research

This work aims at stimulating constructive conversation about decision methods in engineering design by using insights from psychology. I point out that any decision method has two components: coherence, which refers to internal consistency (do design choices satisfy a logical axiom?) and correspondence, which refers to external effectiveness (does a design concept satisfy a functional requirement?). Some researchers argue for “rational” methods such as multi-attribute utility theory, whereas others argue for “heuristics” such as the Pugh process, and the coherence/correspondence distinction can clarify this debate in two ways. First, by analyzing statements in the design literature, I argue that the debate is essentially about different strategies for achieving correspondence: Multi-attribute utility theory aims at achieving coherence with the expectation that coherence will imply correspondence, whereas the Pugh process aims at directly achieving correspondence. Second, I propose a new research question for design: “Under what conditions does achieving coherence imply achieving correspondence?”

Can Design Teams Be Empathically Creative? A Simulation-Based Investigation on the Role of Team Empathy on Concept Generation and Selection

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Alsager Alzayed ◽  
Scarlett R. Miller ◽  
Jessica Menold ◽  
Jacquelyn Huff ◽  
Christopher McComb
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Computational Simulation ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
First Year ◽  
Concept Generation ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Design Activities ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Research on empathy has been surging in popularity in the engineering design community since empathy is known to help designers develop a deeper understanding of the users’ needs. Because of this, the design community has been invested in devising and assessing empathic design activities. However, research on empathy has been primarily limited to individuals, meaning we do not know how it impacts team performance, particularly in the concept generation and selection stages of the design process. Specifically, it is unknown how the empathic composition of teams, average (elevation) and standard deviation (diversity) of team members’ empathy, would impact design outcomes in the concept generation and selection stages of the design process. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to investigate the impact of team trait empathy on concept generation and selection in an engineering design student project. This was accomplished through a computational simulation of 13,482 teams of noninteracting brainstorming individuals generated by a statistical bootstrapping technique drawing upon a design repository of 806 ideas generated by first-year engineering students. The main findings from the study indicate that the elevation in team empathy positively impacted simulated teams’ unique idea generation and selection while the diversity in team empathy positively impacted teams’ generation of useful ideas. The results from this study can be used to guide team formation in engineering design.

Development of a Design for Manufacturing Rules Database for Use in Instruction of DFM Practices

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Phelan ◽  
Crystal Wilson ◽  
Joshua D. Summers
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Design For Manufacturing ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Design For X ◽  
Database Model ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Modern Engineering ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Is Design

In recent years, there has been a significant push towards “Design for X” (DFX) in modern engineering design practice. One such category that has received a large amount of attention is design for manufacturing. When conducting design for manufacturing, a common tool to assist in the design process is design for a series of design for manufacturing guidelines. While the use of these guidelines, as well as other DFX guidelines, has been shown to be effective, little research has been done with the intent to standardize the guidelines or make them more readily available. In this paper, the authors propose a Design for Manufacturing database tool to assist in the instruction of design for manufacturing guidelines. The development of the database model is discussed, as well as the interface that is used to interact with the database. The tool is then evaluated and conclusions are made with regards to the effectiveness of the database and any future work to increase the functionality. One major addition that is discussed is the adaptation of the database for use in industry, and not just in education, to assist in the engineering design process.

A User-Engineering Design Interaction Supporting Rational Product Cooperative Design

2012 ◽  
Vol 155-156 ◽  
pp. 51-55
Author(s):  
Jian Jun Qin ◽  
Yan An Yao ◽  
Jian Wei Yang
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Market Analysis ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Customer Requirements ◽  
Design Quality ◽  
Cooperative Design ◽  
Computing Platform

To input rational customer requirements into engineering design process more effectively and improve product design quality and market response efficiency, this paper focuses on the interaction between market analysis and engineering design decision for the modular product. While many researchers have successful evaluated and optimized the design schemes, few, if any, have provided a bridge the customer selection and firms product development decision. After a review of the literature we introduce the flow of user-engineering design interaction including both maximize the utility of customer and the profit of the firm. On the user and market analysis flow, customer requirements are defined according to the target market, then the customer selection possibility link to the product attributes by utility function. Accordingly, the alternatives are corresponding to the module different product, and then using decision support problem method to search the optimal design parameters. Two design domains can share the design information and realize the cooperative design process by computer computing platform.

scholarly journals The Effects of Service-Based Learning on Metacognitive Strategies During an Engineering Design Task

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gay Lemons ◽  
Adam Carberry ◽  
Christopher Swan ◽  
Linda Jarvin
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Design Task ◽  
Service Activities ◽  
The Impact

Service-based learning has become an emerging pedagogical tool for engineering education. Although there is a large body of literature reporting the benefits of service activities, most studies have relied on self-report measures and generalized learning contributions. Our evaluation went beyond self-perceptions by investigating the impact that service-based learning programs had on specific cognitive elements of engineering design. The primary goal of this project was to investigate what effects, if any, service activities had on the engineering design process. Verbal protocols were collected from ten engineering students during an open-ended, model-building design task. The five service students and five non-service students also completed post-task interviews and reflection papers. The students in our sample who had participated in service-based learning activities voiced more metacognitive phrases, demonstrated more accurate task analysis and clearer strategic planning skills, were more skilled at discriminating useful from superfluous information, and had a better understanding of clients’ needs and constraints. From our sample, it appears that participation in service-based learning activities enhances the design process of engineering students.

scholarly journals On the Peculiarities of Design: An Engineering Perspective

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mouhamed Abdulla ◽  
Yousef R. Shayan
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Transfer Of Knowledge ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Hands On Learning ◽  
Analytical Research ◽  
Applied Design

It is a fact of our existence, that no matter where we are, we most often find ourselves either hearing, seeing, talking, or even engaged in design related activities. Despite this reality, the notion of“design”, and in particular “engineering design”, is often ambiguous, and at times obscure. Thus, the transfer of knowledge of this crucial topic to engineering students engaged in practical hands-on learning or analytical research is usually perplexing to accomplish. In light of this, it becomes worthwhile to dissect and reflect on the abstraction of the design process in engineering. In fact,the aim of this article is to investigate the facets of applied design, and elaborate on its diversity, complexity and elements. Eventually, by concretizing this subject matter, we hope to slightly assist engineering students in alleviating some of the vagueness associated with the principle of design, and enhance their technical skillset during innovative conceptions.

scholarly journals Self-Regulation Strategies in an Engineering Design Project

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oenardi Lawanto ◽  
Andreas Febrian ◽  
Deborah Butler ◽  
Mani Mina
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Design Project ◽  
Task Interpretation

Models of self-regulation describe how individuals engage deliberately and reflectively in goal-directed action in order to achieve valued goals. Studies have found that the consistent use of self-regulation in an academic setting is highly correlated with student achievement. Self-regulation plays a critical role in problem-solving, particularly when unraveling ill-structured problems as is required in engineering design. The primary research question: How did engineering students perceive their self-regulation activities while engaged in a design project? A total of 307 students from three higher education institutions working on their capstone engineering design projects participated in the study. The study evaluated students’ self-regulation in relation to both design and project management skills. We used a self-regulation in engineering design questionnaire (EDMQ) to assess students’ approaches to self-regulation. Quantitative data were analyzed in two parts using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings suggested that: (1) Students focused more consistently on task interpretation than other self-regulatory strategies, particularly during design; (2) Students lacked awareness of the essential need to develop a method to assess the design deliverables; (3) Self-regulation gaps were found during early design phases, but as the design process progressed, a more balanced approach to self-regulation was apparent. Given the importance of task interpretation to successful performance, students attended to identifying tasks during both the design process and project management. However, they did not report engaging in planning, implementing, and monitoring and fix-up strategies as consistently, even when those processes were relevant and called for. Implications are drawn for research, theory, and practice.

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