Complex Product Architecture Analysis using an Integrated Approach

yesProduct design decomposition and synthesis is a constant challenge with its continuously increasing complexity at each level of abstraction. Currently, design decomposition and synthesis analytical tasks are mostly accomplished via functional and structural methods. These methods are useful in different phases of design process for product definition and architecture but limited in a way that they tend to focus more on ‘what’ and less on ‘how’ and vice versa. This paper combines a functional representation tool known as System State Flow Diagram (a solution independent approach), a solution search tool referred as Morphology Table, and Design Structure Matrix (mainly a solution dependent tool). The proposed approach incorporates Multiple Domain Matrix (MDM) to integrate the knowledge of both solution independent and dependent analyses. The approach is illustrated with a case study of solar robot toy, followed by its limitations, future work and discussion

Complex Product Architecture Analysis using an Integrated Approach

yesProduct design decomposition and synthesis is a constant challenge with its continuously increasing complexity at each level of abstraction. Currently, design decomposition and synthesis analytical tasks are mostly accomplished via functional and structural methods. These methods are useful in different phases of design process for product definition and architecture but limited in a way that they tend to focus more on ‘what’ and less on ‘how’ and vice versa. This paper combines a functional representation tool known as System State Flow Diagram (a solution independent approach), a solution search tool referred as Morphology Table, and Design Structure Matrix (mainly a solution dependent tool). The proposed approach incorporates Multiple Domain Matrix (MDM) to integrate the knowledge of both solution independent and dependent analyses. The approach is illustrated with a case study of solar robot toy, followed by its limitations, future work and discussion

Change prediction using interface data

Managing change can be challenging due to the high levels of interdependency in concurrent engineering processes. A key activity in engineering change management is propagation analysis, which can be supported using the change prediction method. In common with most other change prediction approaches, the change prediction method has three important limitations: L1: it depends on highly subjective input data; L2: it is capable of modelling 'generalised cases' only and cannot be; customised to assess specific changes; and L3: the input data are static, and thus, guidance does not reflect changes in the design. This article contributes to resolving these limitations by incorporating interface information into the change prediction method. The enhanced method is illustrated using an example based on a flight simulator. © The Author(s) 2013

Asymmetric dimethylarginine, smoking, and risk of coronary heart disease in apparently healthy men: Prospective analysis from the population-based Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease/Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Regi

An increased plasma concentration of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) predicts adverse clinical outcome in patients with coronary heart disease. We investigated the association between plasma concentrations of ADMA and risk in initially healthy smoking and nonsmoking men. METHODS: Participants for this nested case-control study came from the population-based Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease/Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg study. ADMA was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in 88 men with incident coronary events (fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death) and 254 age-matched controls, with a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 6.2 (3.3-7.9) years. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, the relative risk for a future coronary event was 2.00 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-3.16; P = 0.003] for smokers compared with nonsmokers and 1.35 (95% CI 0.78-2.33; P = 0.282) for the top vs the bottom tertile of the ADMA distribution. In cases and controls, lower ADMA plasma concentrations were observed in smokers. Analysis of ADMA-associated risk in smokers and nonsmokers separately revealed substantial differences: the adjusted relative risk for future coronary events (top vs bottom tertile of the ADMA distribution) was 0.48 (95% CI 0.16-1.46; P = 0.198) in smokers and 2.40 (95% CI 1.14-5.08; P = 0.021) in nonsmokers. Exposure of human endothelium-derived EAhy 926 cells to tobacco smoke enhanced expression of the ADMA metabolizing enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 and reduced ADMA concentration. CONCLUSIONS: In apparently healthy men, increased ADMA predicts the risk for coronary events in nonsmokers, but not in smokers. This may be explained in part by an alteration of ADMA metabolism by tobacco smoke

Applying Platform Design to Improve Product-Service Systems Collaborative Development

Part 3: Product-Service SystemsInternational audienceThe promise of Product-Service Systems (PSS) is that it might revolutionize the consumer experience, increase the manufacture’s profits and reduce environmental impacts by providing comprehensive solutions instead of pure physical products or services. However, most of the existing researches and applications on PSS are focus on the new PSS development (NPD) which could increase the customer satisfaction but could not enhance the profits of an enterprise effectively. Therefore, the platform design theory is adopted to support collaborative development of PSS. The customer requirements are forecasted by Kano model. Instead of completely innovation design, existing products and services are analyzed by function decomposition methods and the modular technology to support the PSS development. Finally, a case study of the crane machine PSS portfolios shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach

Wind farm energy: Design Synthesis Exercise Spring 2011; Group S12: Final report

This technical report was written as a part of the Design Synthesis Exercise (DSE), part of the third year Aerospace Engineering Bachelor curriculum of the Delft University of Technology. Ten students, together forming DSE group S12, have worked together for eleven weeks to come to this result. The report describes the design of an innovative system to increase wind farm efficiency. After reading this report, the reader should understand the design process and the design itself. When reading this report, some prior knowledge of the working principles of wind farms, economics, aerodynamics and structures is helpful to fully understand the content and derivations. However, without this prior knowledge the general outline should be understandable for most readers.Aerospace EngineeringAerodynamics, Wind Energy & Propulsio