Supporting 'design for reuse' with modular design

Engineering design reuse refers to the utilization of any knowledge gained from the design activity to support future design. As such, engineering design reuse approaches are concerned with the support, exploration, and enhancement of design knowledge prior, during, and after a design activity. Modular design is a product structuring principle whereby products are developed with distinct modules for rapid product development, efficient upgrades, and possible reuse (of the physical modules). The benefits of modular design center on a greater capacity for structuring component parts to better manage the relation between market requirements and the designed product. This study explores the capabilities of modular design principles to provide improved support for the engineering design reuse concept. The correlations between modular design and 'reuse' are highlighted, with the aim of identifying its potential to aid the little-supported process of design for reuse. In fulfilment of this objective the authors not only identify the requirements of design for reuse, but also propose how modular design principles can be extended to support design for reuse

Design for Product Service Supportability (DfPSS) Approach: A State of the Art to Foster Product Service System (PSS) Design

Product-Service System lifecycle is characterized by several phases from the initial concept to the final disposal. However, as for conventional products, the profit generation and the market success of PSSs critically depend on the decisions taken during the initial lifecycle stages, when PSSs are conceptualized, designed, developed and engineered. These are hence the phases deserving more attention in order to manage the intrinsic complexity of such systems, taking it in account during the entire PSS life cycle design phase. According to this, one of the main gaps detected in the PSS design process is the lack of methods able to support the early integration of service features during the product design. In this specific context DfX approaches, where X= x-bility stands for enhancing products design considering at the same time service features to be embedded on it (x) according to certain performance measures (-bility), are supposed to significantly contribute. The Serviceability point of view appears to be a critical aspect of the design of product-oriented PSS that has not been improving yet: significant enhancement in this products' characteristic will only occur if some changes will arise in the way they are designed. Indeed companies still need guidelines able to enhance the PSS design process in a more systematic way. On this basis, due to the main gap of integrating service features in the product design process, the paper presents and defines DfX approaches enlightening, among the several target properties they have been called to improve so far, the most suitable DfX streams detected to solve the reported PSS design issue and to define Design for Product Service Supportability (DfPSS)

Ontology-Based Multiplatform Identification Method

This paper puts forward a multiplatform identification method to overcome the limitations of a single platform strategy when mass customization is required. The method is applied to redesign or consolidate an existing product family. The method consists of four steps: (1) the determination of component values, (2) the estimation of component redesign efforts, (3) the platform component identification, and (4) the formation of multiple platform instances. An ontology-based framework is also provided to facilitate the information representation and the data integration in the identification of multiplatform structure. Once the platforms are identified, an ontology reasoning mechanism verifies the platform sharing among products and determines the possible multiplatform coalition. A water cooler product family is used to illustrate the ontology-based multiplatform identification method

COIM: An Object-Process Based Method for Analyzing Architectures of Complex, Interconnected, Large-Scale Socio-Technical Systems

There is growing evidence for the relevance of human behavioral factors in successful development of new products, processes, and services. The evidence is even clearer when the forces affecting the development and evolution of long-lived, large, and open complex socio-technical systems are examined. Methods that study the architecture of these systems can help scholars and practitioners to better understand, manage, and develop socio-technical systems. We propose an approach and a method to address these needs that is grounded in the theory of systems architecture and builds on the strengths of Object Process Methodology (OPM) and the process for representing Complex Large-scale Interconnected Open Socio-technical (CLIOS) systems. We do so by integrating these methods into the CLIOS-OPM Integrated Method (COIM). COIM is conducive to studying a system's architecture and its evolution, as it is enhanced by a set of qualitative methods for answering questions about the reasons (why) and process (how) of change in human-made systems over time.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Communications Futures ProgramNational Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant #EIA-0306723

A fuzzy method for propagating functional architecture constraints to physical architecture.

International audienceModular product design has received great attention for about 10 years, but few works have proposed tools to either jointly design the functional and physical architectures or propagate the impact of evolutions from one domain to another. In this paper, we present a new method supporting the product architecture design. In new product development situations or in reengineering projects, system architects could use this method in the early design stages to predetermine cohesive modules and integrative elements and to simulate a domain architecture by propagating architecture choices from another domain. To illustrate our approach, we present an industrial case study concerning the design of a new automobile powertrain

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

Utilizing Core Stability in a Bankart Repair Rehabilitation

In the rehabilitation orthopedic injuries, having a whole body mindset is necessary for the full recovery of the athlete. As each part of the body is attached to the whole the effect of injury to one seemingly isolated area does affect the global system. This study was done around a case that entered rehabilitation after a Bankart Repair surgery. Innately, the glenohumeral joint sacrifices stability for enhanced mobility. The Bankart repair is primarily to repair any damage from the hypermobile humerus and tighten the capsule. Therefore, rehabilitation for this athlete is focused on progressing the stable use of the joint at the humerus as well as how the rest of the body works with the shoulder. The utilization of the lower core was specifically evaluated in the global strengthening process to investigate better rehabilitation engagement. Developing a dynamic core requires the upper body to position the trunk over the pelvis providing a foundation for optimal function of the upper and lower extremities. The throwing process is unique often to upper extremity on the dominant side and requires the build up, release, and control of power and torque in precise timing. Therefore, in the rehabilitation progression of an athlete with the need to strengthen instability in the his dominant arm, founding a strong core is of great importance. The pelvic floor was specifically evaluated due to the muscles’ role in upholding strength in the lower abdominals as well as stability in the pelvis and further down the kinetic chain. Engaging the muscles of the transverse abdominis, multifidi, and pelvic floor provides a direct foundation to the upper back musculature, providing mobility and stability to scapulothoracic and glenohumeral joints. As the athlete progressed through post surgical rehabilitation, areas of the shoulder, upper and lower back, and core were facilitated simultaneously, enhancing the patient’s return to play and overall function