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a Fixed structure of goal and transformation functions. b Multi-domain matrix derived from the goal and transformation component functions
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This study introduces a method to build a multi-domain matrix (MDM), visualizing the intended architecture of a system within the component, function, and parameter domains. The MDM is generated from textual function specifications that are subject to a specific grammatical structure and vocabulary based upon the functional basis and interaction ba...
Citations
... To enable designers to consider the switching between product models in product model selection, researchers have to anticipate both the linkability of product models and how to provide the knowledge of these linking possibilities. Examples of linkable product models have already been described in the literature, e.g., building FEM or MBS models from CAD models (Danjou et al. 2008) or building up a design structure matrix (DSM) from textual functional descriptions or a technical drawing (Wilschut et al. 2018). But the knowledge about these already described linkable product models has not yet been merged. ...
During an engineering design process, designers create sequences of product models by switching between product models with different purposes. To enable an efficient use of these product models, researchers are required to anticipate the compatibility of the models in application by designers. This is necessary as the information in an existing product model may not be usable for a subsequent product model. However, the corresponding information on compatibility was not accessible to researchers as it was scattered across various publications. Hence, the objective of this contribution was to develop a structured overview, a landscape of linkable and non-linkable product models in embodiment design to merge the information. For this purpose, a literature review containing a grounded theory-based analysis was conducted and the results were visualized using the network visualization software Gephi. The key learnings of the visualized landscape of 52 product models can be summarized as follows: (1) some models are already closely linked to each other by compatible inputs and outputs; (2) other product models are noticeable with mostly unknown linking possibilities due to incompatible inputs and outputs or insufficient descriptions in the literature. 14 product models offer two linking possibilities or less. In these cases, it is unclear how they interact with other product models in an engineering design process. In conclusion, the product model landscape provides insight into the compatibility of product models to support the development of existing and new product models for sequential use by designers.
... A scenario-based event function statement describes a scenario-based event affected by a scenario and a scenario-based requirement. The scenario-based requirement function statement derived from Wilschut et al. (2018) will be used as an example: Requirement = Event 1 + Verb + Scenario + Preposition + Event 2 , where 1. The first scenario event reflects an event that affects the scenario requirement. ...
Research and development (R&D) project requirements have relationships with scenarios, scenario‐based events and other factors, while traditional research does not always include quantitative analysis. Our research proposes a new method for prioritising scenario‐based requirements within R&D projects based on scenario analysis and cross‐efficiency. First, we decompose the scenarios and apply the design structure matrix to demonstrate the inside dependencies. Second, the multi‐domain matrix (MDM) is used to establish a model for the dependencies between scenario‐based requirements based on scenarios and scenario‐based events and the complex network is used to measure the degree centrality between the scenario‐based requirements. Third, the data envelopment analysis is utilised in the integrated cross‐efficiency model, including self‐efficiency and peer efficiency, to evaluate scenario‐based requirements' economic benefits and resource utilisation. Finally, dependencies among scenario‐based requirements for product R&D projects within company A are derived and ranked, indicating the model's validity.
... A simplified system architecture of an optical nuclear fusion diagnostic system, represented as a network (left) and its equivalent product DSM (right). Wilschut et al. (2018a) have realized that a product DSM can be derived from structured function specifications. They use goal functions in the following syntax to express an interface between two components: ...
... This example specifies a transmission of torque that characterizes an interface between a motor and a pump. Wilschut et al. (2018a) have expanded the idea of structured system architecture specifications into a novel language, the Elephant Specification Language (ESL) (Wilschut et al., 2018b;Wilschut, 2018). In the next sections, we will build our method on the ESL modelling syntax. ...
Tomorrow's big science systems are in development today. Success depends on global collaboration in which multiple international parties produce unique assemblies. Inter-organizational barriers, interests and technical conflicts often complicate the design and realization process. It is especially difficult to manage a system's interfaces over such boundaries. We propose a model-based approach to support integrators in such situations. Combining a system architecture model, Integration Readiness Levels (IRLs) and a network of actors, we can derive a newly introduced Collaborative Interface Risk Index (CIRI) that highlights risky interfaces, the organizational patterns that are required for successful integration and a progress indicator that tracks how many interfaces have been defined sufficiently. We demonstrate the method for one of ITER's diagnostic subsystems, which is being developed by six distributed organizations. The result is a Multi-Domain Matrix (MDM) that gives a complete overview on the complexity and risks of the collaborative engineering project.
... While there is a need for NLP support in terms of text generation to create opportunity statements, some documentation guidelines have been proposed to structure the requirements such that these are suitable to perform NLP tasks (Moitra et al. 2019;Kang et al. 2019a). The scholars have extensively invested in NLP approaches to map needs to functions (Murphy et al. 2014;Vandevenne et al. 2015), generate functions (Fantoni et al. 2013;Wilschut et al. 2018) and develop function structures (Gangopadhyay 2001;Yamamoto et al. 2010;Gericke and Eisenbart 2017) as we have reviewed in this article. ...
We review the scholarly contributions that utilise natural language processing (NLP) techniques to support the design process. Using a heuristic approach, we gathered 223 articles that are published in 32 journals within the period 1991–present. We present state-of-the-art NLP in-and-for design research by reviewing these articles according to the type of natural language text sources: internal reports, design concepts, discourse transcripts, technical publications, consumer opinions and others. Upon summarising and identifying the gaps in these contributions, we utilise an existing design innovation framework to identify the applications that are currently being supported by NLP. We then propose a few methodological and theoretical directions for future NLP in-and-for design research.
... The functional domain links the requirements for technical systems to possible solution concepts and is therefore of paramount importance for digital product development processes. Current investigations show that system architectures created from the functional domain are nearly identical to the architecture of real systems [2]. In the field of digital function modeling, generic libraries for functions were developed [3] and were formulated as object-oriented models using the well-known Systems Modeling Language (SysML) [4]. ...
The main focus of this paper is the integration of an integrated function modeling (IFM) framework in an engineering framework based on graph-based design languages (GBDLs). Over the last decade, GBDLs have received increasing attention as they offer a promising approach for addressing several important challenges in engineering, such as the frequent and time-consuming transfer of data between different computer aided engineering (CAE) tools. This absorbs significant amounts of manual labor in engineering design projects. GBDLs create digital system models at a meta level, encompassing all relevant information concerning a certain product design and feeding this into the relevant simulation tools needed for evaluating the impact of possible design variations on the performance of the resulting products/parts. It is possible to automate this process using digital compilers. Because of this, it is also possible to realize systematic design variations for a very large number of parameters and topological variants. Therefore, these kinds of graph-based languages are a powerful means for creating a large number of viable design alternatives and for permitting fast evaluation processes against the given specifications. While, thus far, such analyses tend to be based on a more or less fully defined system, this paper proposes an expansion of the applicability of GBDLs into the domain of product functions to cohesively link conceptual with embodiment design stages. This will also help with early systematic, automated generation and the validation of design alternatives through relevant simulation tools during embodiment design. Further, it will permit the automated exploration of function paths and enable extended analysis possibilities, such as the detection of functional bottlenecks, while enhancing the traceability of the design over the development process. For these extended analysis possibilities, a function analysis tool was developed that adopts core ideas of the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA). In this, the functional distinction between function carriers and function-related processes allows the goal-directed assessment of component reliabilities and the detectability and importance of processes in a technical system. In the paper, the graph-based modeling of functions and the function analysis tools are demonstrated on the example of a multicopter.
... While there is a need for NLP support in terms of text generation to generate opportunity statements, some documentation guidelines have been proposed to structure the requirements such that these are suitable to perform NLP tasks [36], [267]. The scholars have extensively invested in NLP approaches to map needs to functions [86], [137], generate functions [74], [260], and develop function structures [7], [257], [258] as we have reviewed in this article. ...
We review the scholarly contributions that utilise Natural Language Processing (NLP) methods to support the design process. Using a heuristic approach, we collected 223 articles published in 32 journals and within the period 1991-present. We present state-of-the-art NLP in-and-for design research by reviewing these articles according to the type of natural language text sources: internal reports, design concepts, discourse transcripts, technical publications, consumer opinions, and others. Upon summarizing and identifying the gaps in these contributions, we utilise an existing design innovation framework to identify the applications that are currently being supported by NLP. We then propose a few methodological and theoretical directions for future NLP in-and-for design research.
... In conclusion, English is a language which prefers to use longer and complex modifier around Theme, so Wordsworth uses many multiple Themes. However, too many multiple Themes will confuse readers who come from different cultural backgrounds [14]. To solve this problem, Fei Bai changes some modifier into a simple independent Theme, so the number of simple Theme in Chinese translated version is increased. ...
This study analyzed the thematic structures of Wordsworth’s “Daffodils” and its Chinese version by Fei Bai to compare the theme distributions and their markedness in the original and Chinese versions of the poem. Results showed that the number of simple themes in the translated version was significantly higher than in Wordsworth’s original version. Conversely, Wordsworth’s version had more marked themes than Fei Bai’s version. This study then explored potential reasons for the different thematic structures in the two versions. The percentage of simple themes in Fei Bai’s version was higher than that in the original version because Chinese does not have a clausal theme, so translators would more frequently use simple themes. Additionally, Wordsworth’s original version reflected a higher percentage of marked themes than Fei Bai’s Chinese version because native English writers prefer to use juxtaposed phrases and clauses. These results provide theoretical insights on employing the linguistic perspective to compare English poems and their Chinese translations.
... Besides, product development projects are becoming more collaborative as the complexity of systems and the need to simultaneously consider several life cycle aspects (operation, manufacturing/assembly, ect). In this context, it becomes necessary to structure the design phase to promote the exchange of information between the different project actors [19,23]. The approach that we propose after the structuring of the embodiment design phase seeks at structuring knowledge, in a standardized way, to facilitate its exchange and capitalization. ...
The work presented in this article underlines the embodiment design phase aiming at the determination of different possible architecture of a system according to the energy vision combined with the graph theory. Indeed, the embodiment design phase presents the difficulty of organizing the design alternatives. This difficulty is due to the fact that the various components of the system are not yet fully defined, and there are many arrangement possibilities. In this context, we seek to structure a methodology for the preliminary definition of the technical system architecture, while respecting the TRIZ law of completeness of the system parts. We consider the availability of the transmission elements of the principal energy flow (functional flow).
The modeling of the system will concern the flow ensuring the positioning of the system principal component called (contact flow). The modeling of an optimal system composed of the main elements (converter, transmitter, operator, and reference) with a graph ensures the possibility to propose various architectures based on the combinations of these components. The proposed approach consists of three principal phases: appropriate graph-system model association, inappropriate solutions elimination, full system definition, and decision making. An illustration of the methodology is carried out on a wind system example.
... Multi-Domain Matrices (MDMs) extend DSMs by including multiple sets on each dimension and composing multiple matrices [38,39]. MDMs are difficult to construct and visualize due to their size. ...
... Transforming model data into analyzable matrixial representations is not trivial. It mandates transforming any model into a uniform, common, language-agnostic representation that is robust enough to accommodate any domain-specific syntax and semantics, and powerful enough to facilitate any sort of analysis [35,38]. ...
We introduce the Concept→Model→Graph→View Cycle (CMGVC). The CMGVC facilitates coherent architecture analysis, reasoning, insight, and decision making based on conceptual models that are transformed into a generic, robust graph data structure (GDS). The GDS is then transformed into multiple views of the model, which inform stakeholders in various ways. This GDS-based approach decouples the view from the model and constitutes a powerful enhancement of model-based systems engineering (MBSE). The CMGVC applies the rigorous foundations of Category Theory, a mathematical framework of representations and transformations. We show that modeling languages are categories, drawing an analogy to programming languages. The CMGVC architecture is superior to direct transformations and language-coupled common representations. We demonstrate the CMGVC to transform a conceptual system architecture model built with the Object Process Modeling Language (OPM) into dual graphs and a stakeholder-informing matrix that stimulates system architecture insight.
... Multi-Domain Matrices (MDMs) extend DSMs by including multiple sets on each dimension and composing multiple matrices [38,39]. MDMs are difficult to construct and visualize due to their size. ...
... Transforming model data into analyzable matrixial representations is not trivial. It mandates transforming any model into a uniform, common, language-agnostic representation that is robust enough to accommodate any domain-specific syntax and semantics, and powerful enough to facilitate any sort of analysis [35,38]. ...
We introduce the Concept→Model→Graph→View Cycle (CMGVC). The CMGVC facilitates coherent architecture analysis, reasoning, insight, and decision making based on conceptual models that are transformed into a generic, robust graph data structure (GDS). The GDS is then transformed into multiple views of the model, which inform stakeholders in various ways. This GDS-based approach decouples the view from the model and constitutes a powerful enhancement of model-based systems engineering (MBSE). The CMGVC applies the rigorous foundations of Category Theory, a mathematical framework of representations and transformations. We show that modeling languages are categories, drawing an analogy to programming languages. The CMGVC architecture is superior to direct transformations and language-coupled common representations. We demonstrate the CMGVC to transform a conceptual system architecture model built with the Object Process Modeling Language (OPM) into dual graphs and a stakeholder-informing matrix that stimulates system architecture insight.
