Application of Design Structure Matrix to Simulate Surgical Procedures and Predict Surgery Duration

Background. The complexities of surgery require an efficient and explicit method to evaluate and standardize surgical procedures. A reliable surgical evaluation tool will be able to serve various purposes such as development of surgery training programs and improvement of surgical skills. Objectives. (a) To develop a modeling framework based on integration of dexterity analysis and design structure matrix (DSM), to be generally applicable to predict total duration of a surgical procedure, and (b) to validate the model by comparing its results with laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery protocol. Method. A modeling framework is developed through DSM, a tool used in engineering design, systems engineering and management, to hierarchically decompose and describe relationships among individual surgical activities. Individual decomposed activities are assumed to have uncertain parameters so that a rework probability is introduced. The simulation produces a distribution of the duration of the modeled procedure. A statistical approach is then taken to evaluate surgery duration through integrated numerical parameters. The modeling framework is applied for the first time to analyze a surgery; laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a common surgical procedure, is selected for the analysis. Results. The present simulation model is validated by comparing its results of predicted surgery duration with the standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy protocols from the Atlas of Minimally Invasive Surgery with 2.5% error and that from the Atlas of Pediatric Laparoscopy and Thoracoscopy with 4% error. Conclusion. The present model, developed based on dexterity analysis and DSM, demonstrates a validated capability of predicting laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery duration. Future studies will explore its potential applications to other surgery procedures and in improving surgeons’ performance and training novices.

Process Optimization for Post Disaster Reconstruction Project Based on Industrial Design Structure Matrix (DSM)

Post-disaster reconstruction projects face tighter time constraints and are in a more complex environment, making the implementation process of conventional projects unable to meet new requirements. This study decomposes the construction process and then determines the feed-forward and feedback relationship between activities in the post-disaster reconstruction environment. An information relationship diagram is established, and the relationship is transformed into a design structure matrix (DSM). Through DSM manipulation, a partitioned DSM is formed to express the activity process that is more suitable for reconstruction. This research shows that the activities sequence and content need to be changed to adapt to the reconstruction scenario, and some activities may even be canceled. Some suggestions can help construct the project faster, including closer cooperation between design and construction. The bidding scope includes design and construction and the use of more integrated project delivery methods. Finally, a reconstruction case in China illustrates the operability of analyzing and adjusting the implementation process through this framework.

A model for minimizing feedback-length between activities of a project

Proper sequencing between activities has always been one of the major issues in project management. Sometimes it is needed to redo some activities especially in product development projects. It is assumed that one of the reasons for reworking some activities and backward can be due to the incompleteness of the information needed when doing them, and also assumed that having complete information requires cost. In this article, a network of activities is considered, which may require a duplication of the process due to the interdependence of information between them. In this paper, using the design structure matrix concept and interdependence between activities, a two-purpose model for determining the proper sequence of activities have been provided to minimize the length of feedback and reduce the cost of completing the information using matrix concept. To accurately solve this model, the combination Lexicographic and Augmented Epsilon Constraint is used to obtain the Pareto National Front, which shows an increase in the cost of reducing the degree of dependence between activities for reducing the feedback length between activities. From the Pareto front, the best answer was chosen in a way that, based on the economic justification of the project, the percentage of reduction in the feedback length would be higher than the percentage increase.

Application of Service Modular Design Based on a Fuzzy Design Structure Matrix: A Case Study from the Mining Industry

The development of customized service is an important way to transform and upgrade China’s mining industry. However, in practice, there remain problems, such as the slow market response speed of service providers and the contradiction between the large-scale development of service providers and the personalized service needs of service demanders. This paper uses the theory and method of service modular design to solve these problems and explores the process-based service modular design method. Service modular design depends largely on the determination of the relationship between service activities and the reasonable division of modules. However, previous research has rarely made use of modular design methods and modeling tools in the mining service context. At the same time, evaluations of the relationship between service activities relying on knowledge and those relying on experience have been inconclusive. Therefore, this paper proposes a service modularization design method based on the fuzzy relation analysis of a design structure matrix (DSM) that solves the optimal module partition scheme. Triangular fuzzy number and fuzzy evidence theory are used to evaluate and fuse the multidimensional and heterogeneous relationship between service activities, and the quantitative processing of the comprehensive relationship between service activities is carried out. On this basis, the service module structure is divided, followed by the construction of the mathematical programming model with the maximum sum of the average cohesion degree in the module and the average coupling degree between modules as the driving goal. The genetic algorithm is used to solve the problem, and the optimal module division result is obtained. Finally, taking the service modular design of SHD coal production enterprises in China as an example, the feasibility of the proposed method is verified.

Integration of axiomatic design and design structure matrix for the modular design of automobile parts

As the demands of customers in the modern industry increased, the number of products, and the variety of components has increased. These issues have led to difficulties in product development and production. Modularization of products has advantages such as cost reduction, product development time reduction, and production time reduction. Modular design of products has been studied in the design activities of the modern industry. In this study, a modular design method is proposed to design a modular product based on axiomatic design (AD) and design structure matrix (DSM). AD and DSM are efficiently integrated into the proposed method. Functional requirements and design parameters are defined based on the Independence Axiom of AD, and the zigzagging process of AD is employed for the decomposition of the functional requirements (FRs) and design parameters (DPs). The design sequence is established based on the design matrix. Coupled or functionally close DPs are grouped into a module (Module 1). These modules are efficiently used in the design sequence. DSM is used to modularize the design parameters of the lowest level of axiomatic design. DSM is constructed based on physical interfaces and numerical clustering algorithms are used to identify strongly related components. They are grouped into a module (Module 2). Module 2 is exploited for production and management. Therefore, these two modules for different purposes can be used to increase efficiency in the design and production process. The proposed method is applied to two automobile parts such as the suspension system and cooling system. The results are discussed from the viewpoint of usefulness.

Conceptual Design of an Attachment Based Reconfigurable Machine Tool Using Design Structure Matrix

There has been very little research in the field of Reconfigurable machine Tools (RMTs). None of the past research developed a method to design a set of RMT configurations required to machine a part-family. This thesis presents a novel method to determine the functional specifications of the RMT configurations required to machine a part-family. The method is developed by firstly designing the RMT required to machine a single part. Thereafter, this method is extrapolated to suit the problem of a part-family. To design the RMTs for a single part, firstly, the part is decomposed into manufacturing features. Next, a novel method is developed to cluster the features. Each of these feature-clusters corresponds to a single RMT configuration. Based on the machining requirements of these RMT configurations, the modules are designed. These modules are assembled to form the final RMTs. The method is demonstrated by applying it to an example part.

Conceptual Design of an Attachment Based Reconfigurable Machine Tool Using Design Structure Matrix

There has been very little research in the field of Reconfigurable machine Tools (RMTs). None of the past research developed a method to design a set of RMT configurations required to machine a part-family. This thesis presents a novel method to determine the functional specifications of the RMT configurations required to machine a part-family. The method is developed by firstly designing the RMT required to machine a single part. Thereafter, this method is extrapolated to suit the problem of a part-family. To design the RMTs for a single part, firstly, the part is decomposed into manufacturing features. Next, a novel method is developed to cluster the features. Each of these feature-clusters corresponds to a single RMT configuration. Based on the machining requirements of these RMT configurations, the modules are designed. These modules are assembled to form the final RMTs. The method is demonstrated by applying it to an example part.