Guiding conceptual design modeling based on product systems analysis

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to implement the modeling of the design process in response to volatile market demands. It mainly focuses on design activities for product development towards the early stage.Design/methodology/approachThis paper describes the system of products from the systems engineering point of view, analyzes the attributes of products and components, studies the environment and its input/output relationship and implements product formal representation, respectively. This paper gives product structure and component connections, describes the process of structure generations and product decomposition by set representation, calculates the number of component connections and density of components; also it presents product module division and coupling degree analysis in accordance with axiomatic theory; coupling degree is calculated by considering the correspondence ratio and the cluster independence.FindingsIt describes the product as an engineering system, and analyzes product systems and product structures through using systems theory. Design process modeling is analyzed, and a strategic approach to decomposing product structure and calculating modularity is adopted for product development.Research limitations/implicationsAccessibility and availability mainly focus on product system development.Practical implicationsThe paper offers useful advice for the modeling process of product conceptual design.Originality/valueThe new approach to conceptual design is based on set representation and systems analysis as well as axiomatic theory. The paper is aimed at understanding evolution mechanism of complexity product systems.