Reflecting communication: a key factor for successful collaboration between embodiment design and simulation

Abstract

Abstract The need for integration of computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering environments stems from the business priority to reduce product cycle times. It is exacerbated by the coexistence of two different paradigms: a topological one in embodiment design and a functional one in simulation. This dualism places increasing demands on human communication between design and simulation engineers. This paper claims that reflecting communication is a key factor for successful collaboration. Reflection is used in both senses of the Latin word 'reflectare': to trigger active thinking about and consideration of communication, as well as to mirror perceptions of a given situation by people collaborating. The paper reports on the development and application of a maturity-grid approach to diagnose the current and desired states of communication between design engineers and simulation engineers in the car body development of a German automotive manufacturer. Results include three themes: one, the importance of understanding of the collaborators' information needs; two, the importance of orientation, e.g., indicated by the engineers' overview of sequence of tasks in the design process; and three, the importance of reflection. Keywords: product developmentdesign process improvementdesign managementcommunication assessment methodcollaborative designindustrial case studyautomotive engineeringcomputer-aided design–computer-aided engineering integration Acknowledgements The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions made by the industrial collaborator, Dr Ulrich Herfeld, Frank Deubzer, Dr Claudia Eckert, Peter Wild and the anonymous reviewers to this research, and to the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for funding the work.