Axiomatic based decomposition for conceptual product design

    Authors

    M. A. Mullens; M. Arif; R. L. Armacost; T. A. Gawlik;R. L. Hoekstra

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Prod. Oper. Manag.

    Keywords

    new product development; conceptual design; design process; decomposition; axiomatic design; network partitioning; INFORMATION; CUSTOMER; SYSTEM; Engineering, Manufacturing; Operations Research & Management Science

    Abstract

    This paper describes a structured methodology for decomposing the conceptual design problem in order to facilitate the design process and result in improved conceptual designs that better satisfy the original customer requirements. The axiomatic decomposition for conceptual design method combines Alexander's network partitioning formulation of the design problem with Suh's Independence Axiom. The axiomatic decomposition method uses a cross-domain approach in a House of Quality context to estimate the interactions among the functional requirements that are derived from a qualitative assessment of customer requirements. These interactions are used in several objective functions that serve as criteria for decomposing the design network. A new network partitioning algorithm is effective in creating partitions that maximize the within-partition interactions and minimize the between-partition interactions with appropriate weightings. The viability, usability, and value of the axiomatic decomposition method were examined through analytic comparisons and qualitative assessments of its application. The new method was examined using students in engineering design capstone courses and it was found to be useable and did produce better product designs that met the customer requirements. The student-based assessment revealed that the process would be more effective with individuals having design experience, In a subsequent assessment with practicing industrial designers, it was found that the new method did facilitate the development of better designs. An important observation was the need for limits on partition size (maximum of four functional requirements.) Another issue identified for future research was the need for a means to identify the appropriate starting partition for initiating the design.

    Journal Title

    Production and Operations Management

    Volume

    14

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2005

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    286

    Last Page

    300

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000233026600003

    ISSN

    1059-1478

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