A Model-Based Design Method for the Correlation between Customer Feedback and Technical Design Parameters in the Context of Systems Engineering

Nowadays considering trends such as digitalization, automated driving as well as electric mobility in products in automotive development processes is a major challenge, which has led to an enormous increase in the number of product functions of technical systems. However, the recognized processes in automotive development are strongly component-oriented and such processes partially support the development of product functions. In order to meet future trends and ensure long term customer satisfaction, a transfer from component-oriented to function-oriented development is necessary. Accordingly, a holistic concept can be useful that enables the integration of customer feedback into the early phase of product development in the context of function-orientation. However, the customer feedback evaluation and their mapping with technical subsystems have been considered mainly in the context of component-oriented development. In this contribution, a method is proposed, which is generated in the context of a product model of product generation engineering. Product Generation Engineering enables the structuring of the development process of a product generation and supports function-oriented development. The Product Model provides customer- oriented development of mechatronic products. The proposed method is achieved in the sense of model-based systems engineering and validated by the exemplarily application of a case study of a specific vehicle. Both the past and current product generations of the specific vehicle are taken into account in the development of the subsequent product generation.

INTERDISCIPLINARY SYSTEM ARCHITECTURES IN AGILE MODULAR DEVELOPMENT IN THE PRODUCT GENERATION DEVELOPMENT MODEL USING THE EXAMPLE OF A MACHINE TOOL MANUFACTURER

This paper considers the orientation of product development structures towards interdisciplinary system architectures using the example of a tool machine manufacturer. Due to the change from simple mechanical products to extensively designed systems, whose successful development requires the integration of all disciplines involved, it is analyzed which requirements there are for these interdisciplinary system architectures in today's development environment. In addition, it is validated on the basis of the investigation environment that interdisciplinary system structures are necessary for the development on the different levels of the system view. In doing so, the investigation environment addresses the concept of extracting customer-relevant features (systems) from a physical-tailored modular system (supersystem) in order to develop and test them autonomously, as well as to transfer them to the entire product range in a standardized manner. The elaboration identifies basic requirements for the development of a knowledge base in interdisciplinary system structures and places them into the context of an agile modular kit development.

MODELLING AND VISUALIZING KNOWLEDGE ON THE REFERENCE SYSTEM AND VARIATIONS BASED ON THE MODEL OF PGE – PRODUCT GENERATION ENGINEERING FOR DECISION SUPPORT

In 2019, Dyson had to cancel its ambitious electric car project after having already 500 Million pounds spent. This example shows how difficult it is to assess the consequences of decisions on development targets as cost, risk, and innovation potential. Knowledge about references, variation types and their impact on development targets can help to increase the maturity of the decision basis. The model of PGE - product generation engineering describes these interrelations using the reference system. This contribution deals with the question of how knowledge about the impact of variation types and characteristics of reference system elements on new product generations can be made usable through modelling and visualization. Therefore, characteristics of reference system elements and their impacts on common development targets are collected through literature research. To process this knowledge base in technical information systems, an Entity-Relationship data model is developed. Through the implementation of a VR visualization, the data model is validated and a first visualisation approach is shown. The findings of this work can be used to systematise research on impact factors in PGE and to develop further digital methods.

SELECTION OF REFERENCE SYSTEM ELEMENTS IN THE MODEL OF PGE - PRODUCT GENERATION ENGINEERING: METHOD FOR THE INTEGRATION OF CUSTOMER AND USER SATISFACTION IN PRODUCT PLANNING

In the development of mechatronic systems, it is important to differentiate the products to be developed from those of the competitors, but also from the own product generations already available on the market. However, there are uncertainties regarding the correct features to be differentiated from the customer and user perspective and how these features should be designed. Nevertheless, despite the high impact, decisions must be taken early in the development process. Within this publication, a method to support in this respect was derived based on the findings of the Model of PGE - Product Generation Engineering and the Kano-Model. Therefore, experienceable product features and reference system elements as characteristics of these are evaluated according to the Kano-Model and thus made comparable with regard to the customers and user satisfaction. The objective is to select the product features to be differentiated and the corresponding reference system elements in such a way that a desired level of customer and user satisfaction is achieved. In order to evaluate the method, it was applied in a real development project. It was found that the application of the method led to a reduction of the existing uncertainty.