Identifying Controlling Features of Engineering Design Iteration

TLDR

Engineering design involves complex coupling among many problems, causing iterative tasks, and the design structure matrix identifies where iteration is necessary. The paper develops a work transformation matrix model extending DSM to predict slow and rapid convergence of iteration and to identify design features that will require many iterations. The model is applied to an automotive brake‑system development process to illustrate its ability to describe the main features of an actual design process. The application demonstrates that the model successfully captures the key iterative dynamics of the brake‑system design, validating its utility.

Abstract

Engineering design often involves a very complex set of relationships among a large number of coupled problems. It is this complex coupling that leads to iteration among the various engineering tasks in a large project. The design structure matrix (DSM) is useful in identifying where iteration is necessary. The work transformation matrix model developed in this paper is a powerful extension of the DSM method which can predict slow and rapid convergence of iteration within a project, and predict those coupled features of the design problem which will require many iterations to reach a technical solution. This model is applied to an automotive brake-system development process in order to illustrate the model's utility in describing the main features of an actual design process.