An Integration Matrix for Investigating the Impact of Design Changes in Mechatronic Products

Abstract

In the design process, design changes are unavoidable due to the need to meet customers’ requirements and support future change through technology development. Although components are supposed to be renewed within existing designs, these changes can propagate into other parts due to their interfaces. Propagation makes it difficult for a designer to identify these changes. This study aimed to introduce the integration matrix (I-DSM), an approach to the design of mechatronic products that involves determining changes in existing products with an axiomatic design. Reverse zigzagging was used to break down the entire product to its lowest level. A design matrix (DM) was constructed and then transformed into a design structure matrix (DSM). The I-DSM consists of three layers: information technology, electrical technology, and mechanical technology. The breadth-first search (BFS) method was employed to ascertain the change propagation path in order to consider it. After this, the changing workload was analyzed, and the decision-making process was used to determine the best possible option. Finally, an automatic guided vehicle was used in a case study to demonstrate the use of this methodology by showing how changes in a product can affect it and how a designer can prioritize activities.