A set-based model of design

• Published in: Mechanical engineering (New York, N.Y. 1919) N.Y. 1919), 1996-07, Vol.118 (7), p.78-81
• Main Author: SOBEK, D. K
• Format: Magazinearticle
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Automobile industry; Automobiles; Case studies; Communication; Computer aided design; Computer integrated manufacturing; Concurrent engineering; Constraint theory; Database systems; Decision making; Design; Designers; Documentation; Exact sciences and technology; Group technology; Industrial design, planning, organization, safety; Manufacturing; Mathematical models; Mechanical engineering; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Methods; Optimization; Product design; Product lines; Production engineering; Robustness (control systems); Set theory; Space exploration; Systems engineering
• ISSN: 0025-6501; 1943-5649

In a concurrent engineering approach, as product designs pass from group to group for critique from different functional perspectives, every change causes further changes and analysis, resulting in rework and additional demands on the organization. The process does not guarantee convergence, and the development organization never gets a clear picture of the possibilities. Another system, in use at Toyota Motor Corp. has been called set-based design by Allen Ward of the University of Michigan. Engineers reason and communication about sets of ideas, not one idea at a time. At Toyota, set-based design comes in many forms, and it can be divided into 5 aspects: 1. solution space exploration and set-narrowing, 2. design space mapping, 3. designing for a set of environments, 4. set-based communication, and 5. set-based concurrent engineering. The potential advantages of this approach could far outweigh the costs. For example, it provides a mechanism to help ensure feasibility before committing to a design.