Integrated product and process models: towards an integrated framework and review

in Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design 2015 (2015, August)

While product models and process models have a long standing transiting, there are few models that integrate the two type of models. Those that exist are research systems, which even if validated in ... [more ▼]

While product models and process models have a long standing transiting, there are few models that integrate the two type of models. Those that exist are research systems, which even if validated in industry do not have a broad uptake to date. This paper develops an integrated framework for product and process models based on the purpose the models are put it building on a model of Browning and Ramasesh. Selected integrated model are classified according to the framework. This revealed the no model to date gives equal weight to product and process models. [less ▲]

Integrated Function Modelling: Comparing the IFM Framework With SysML

in Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design 2015 (2015, August)

This paper presents a comparison between the Integrated Function Modelling framework and SysML with the aim of deriving specific potentials for cross-fertilisation and further improvement regarding their ... [more ▼]

This paper presents a comparison between the Integrated Function Modelling framework and SysML with the aim of deriving specific potentials for cross-fertilisation and further improvement regarding their application for function modelling in interdisciplinary design. The presented comparison comprises literature reviews as well as the practical application of both the IFM framework and SysML for modelling the functionality of an exemplary mechatronic system. The research leads to the identification of advantages and shortcomings in both approaches. Based on these insights, the paper further presents a conceptual adaptation of the IFM framework with the intention to improve its practical applicability and reducing modelling efforts. [less ▲]

Designing Meaning to Change Consumer Behaviour: An Exploration

in Chakrabarti, Amaresh (Ed.) ICoRD’15 – Research into Design Across Boundaries Volume 1: Theory, Research Methodology, Aesthetics, Human Factors and Education (2015)

The focus of our research is to support designers in fostering a more sustainable behaviour of consumers by creating meaning in products and services. The paper describes the results of a literature study ... [more ▼]

The focus of our research is to support designers in fostering a more sustainable behaviour of consumers by creating meaning in products and services. The paper describes the results of a literature study into the process of meaning making and the mechanisms through which meaning affects consumer behaviour. Meaning is defined as a mental representation of possible relationships. An initial model, the Meaning-Behaviour Model, is presented, integrating the mechanisms found in literature. Five possible interventions, derived from the model, show how designers can use meaning as a lever to foster enduring behavioural change. The paper contributes to the discussion of introducing meaning through design by exploring the link between meaning and behaviour. [less ▲]

A Model for Value in Lean Product Development

in Schabacker, Michael; Gericke, Kilian; Szélig, Nikoletta (Eds.) et al Modelling and Management of Engineering Processes: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference 2013 (2014)

Lean product development has been developed and deployed in an effort to enhance company operations. Understanding value is the first step to becoming ‘Lean’. However, the mere translation of value from ... [more ▼]

Lean product development has been developed and deployed in an effort to enhance company operations. Understanding value is the first step to becoming ‘Lean’. However, the mere translation of value from its conventional interpretation in lean production as ``something the customer will pay for`` does not equate to an effective value orientation in product development (PD). In order to better understand the theoretical context of PD value in research, as well as the potential application of a value orientation in practice, further study is necessary. This paper aims to broaden the understanding of PD value by discussing by linking roles in value creation and delivery to different contexts and phases of the product life cycle. [less ▲]

Application of the IFM framework for modelling and analysing system functionality

in Marjanovic, Dorian; Storga, Mario; Pavkovic, Neven (Eds.) et al Proceedings of the 13th International Design Conference (2014, May)

Adapting a design approach: A case study in a small space company

in Heisig, Peter; Clarkson, John (Eds.) Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Modelling and Management of Engineering Processes (2014)

Over the past decades many design process models have been proposed in design methodologies, standards, and guidelines. The development of design methodologies is accompanied by an ongoing debate ... [more ▼]

Over the past decades many design process models have been proposed in design methodologies, standards, and guidelines. The development of design methodologies is accompanied by an ongoing debate concerning the applicability of the proposed process models in practice. While many authors highlight the usefulness of design methodologies for training of novices, it is recurrently reported that design methodologies are only seldom applied in design practice. An argument usually produced concerns the abstract character of the design methodologies. While some authors put the whole idea of design methodologies into question, most authors agree that design methodologies are useful but need further development in order to enhance their applicability. Currently there are two main axes for further development of design methodologies: the rising interdisciplinarity in design practice which is not sufficiently addressed in the rather mono-disciplinary design methodologies and the adaptation of design methodologies to different contexts, which is recommended by many authors but lacks a systematic support. This paper addresses the adaptation of a generic design approach to different contexts. The main research question concerns the rationale behind the adaptation. The paper reports a case study in the space industry. The case study is based on a document study, a series of expert interviews and draws from the experience of one of the authors involved in the company. The study compares the design processes of four projects, which show some major differences requiring an adaptation of the particular design approach. The design processes in the company are based on the ECSS (European Cooperation for Space Standardization) standards. The compliance with the processes and practices prescribed in these standards is mandatory for many projects. However, some projects allowed an adaptation of the design approach. It was found that the adaption respectively the tailoring of the design process as prescribed in the ECSS-standards, was driven, when allowed, by risks, costs, and contracting-partners associated with the project. In order to provide some guidance for future projects the company introduced a project categorization scheme which recommends a suitable approach for each project category. The analysis of the categorization scheme and the particular consequences for adaptation in the company allow drawing conclusions about the rationale of design process adaptation in practice, thus contributes to the debate on the applicability of design methodologies and generic design process models and provides some ideas for the support of a context dependent adaptation thereof. [less ▲]

Der Integrated Function Modelling (IFM) Framework

Article for general public (2013)

Understanding the Context of Product Development

in Proceedings of 19th International Conference on Engineering Design (2013, August)

Adaptation of design methodologies to the context in which they should be actually applied is seen as a necessity in order to enhance its acceptance and to widen its application. Even though, a context ... [more ▼]

Adaptation of design methodologies to the context in which they should be actually applied is seen as a necessity in order to enhance its acceptance and to widen its application. Even though, a context dependent adaptation is seen as a suitable means to make a substantial improvement of current design methodologies, only few contributions were made over the last years, and it often remains somewhat fuzzy what context actually means. This paper is intended to consolidate the different meanings of context, ways to represent and specify the context and ways to structure the different views on the context. A scheme for categorising influencing factors is presented. The scheme consolidates factors from literature which have been identified as having an influence on design projects. It is seen as a means to support understanding of a design approach and its context. Therefore, the scheme is a consolidation of existing work, which allows a more comprehensive description and analysis of the context than the more specific lists and schemes from literature. [less ▲]

Design process commonalities in trans-disciplinary design

in Proceedings of 19th International Conference on Engineering Design (2013, August)

Contemporary product development has transformed from being mono-disciplinary to increasingly trans-disciplinary. Technology convergence and specialization of the knowledge are two distinctive trends that ... [more ▼]

Contemporary product development has transformed from being mono-disciplinary to increasingly trans-disciplinary. Technology convergence and specialization of the knowledge are two distinctive trends that have become pronounced. These two trends are implicitly visible on a cross-disciplinary interaction level in industry. However, trans-disciplinary design has not been considered sufficiently in earlier work on design methodology. This paper presents results from an empirical study to identify shared elements of current design practice in industry and identification of transdisciplinary elements of product development. A framework based on key findings from the transdisciplinary consolidation of academic design process models presented by Gericke and Blessing (2012) and Eisenbart et al. (2011) is developed and used to provide answers to the following research questions: How well does the literature based trans-disciplinary design process apply to the trans-disciplinary industrial context? Are there commonalities between design processes across organisations regarding presence of process stages, design states, and the form of the process model? [less ▲]

Proceedings of the International Workshop on the Future of Trans-Disciplinary Design 2013

Book published by University of Luxembourg - digital proceedings for workshop participants (2013)