Structural relationship model for design defect and influencing factors in the concurrent design process

• Published in: International journal of production research 2018-07, Vol.56 (14), p.4897-4924
• Main Authors: Zheng, Huimeng, Liu, Weidong, Xiao, Chengdi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytic hierarchy process; concurrent design; defect influencing factors; Design; design defect; Design defects; Designers; interval analytic hierarchy process (IAHP); Life cycle analysis; Life cycle costs; Life cycle engineering; polychromatic sets; Product design; Product development; Product life cycle; User requirements; Weight
• ISSN: 0020-7543; 1366-588X
• DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2018.1447704

Concurrent design is a systematic approach that aims to help developers consider all elements related to the product life cycle, including quality, cost, schedule and user requirement. This approach is challenging because designers conduct these elements manually in the design process. In addition, studies on the formation mechanism of design defects are limited. To minimise the difficulties of product designers and prevent design defects, a structural relationship model is presented for the concurrent design process. The structural relationship model, which incorporates design defects, design process and influencing factors, is marked through polychromatic sets. The interval analytic hierarchy process is used to determine the weight of each influencing factor. Furthermore, a brief model instruction for concurrent design is proposed to guarantee the model application's validity. The proposed method enables designers to concentrate on functionality and performance design, and the findings are expected to be theoretically and practically useful for preventing and controlling defects in concurrent design.