ystems engineering provides tools to effectively develop intricate systems as well as systems composed of systems. The use of systems engineering is becoming increasingly prevalent due to the methods ability to handle the increasing complexity of systems in modern society. Among these systems are today's global manufacturing networks, driven by recent trends in globalization. This work evaluates the development of a complex manufacturing network in comparison to principles of systems engineering to highlight areas that could have improved from the systems engineering methodology.
Titanium has an excellent combination of properties that make it an attractive material for use in aerospace applications. The one area in which titanium is not aligned with customer needs is affordability. Components made from titanium are many times more expensive than those manufactured from other alloys. The supply chain of an extruded product is no exception. A breakthrough in extrusion cost reduction would enable wider adoption of titanium in many structural member applications. In an effort to accomplish any breakthrough in titanium component costs, the entire supply chain for manufacturing should be evaluated simultaneously. Due to the complex interaction of the many facets of the systems in a manufacturing supply chain, it is inferred that the supply chain in its entirety must be the focus of the design activity in order to be successful. Design improvements on a single facet of manufacture may have little to no effect on the manufacture of the component. If the improvement has a detrimental impact on another system in the supply chain, overall performance may be lowered. The use of a system of systems’ (SoS) design approach was used due to its capability to address complex multi-system integration problems associated with titanium metalworking and manufacture.
The first part of this paper explored the identification of various methodological challenges which have to be addressed when designing complex multi-system integration associated with titanium metalworking and manufacture, while in this second part of the paper, we explore the evolution of System of Systems (SoS) design and development of complex multi-system integration. Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) is employed to address identified system incongruity. The utilization of the SoS design approach coupled with the TRIZ innovation technique proved effective at addressing the system constraints for the titanium manufacturing supply chain. The utilization of the two-part process prescribed by the SoS design approach proved effective at addressing requirements and broadly stated industry needs. Through this unique system, design net-shaped structural beam from common aerospace grade titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) was successfully manufactured.The predominant architecture of the system of systems is subdivided into two categories: pre-form generation and finishing of the pre-form. A hypothetical example of preform and finishing could be forging and subsequent machining to final condition. There are multiple steps typically involved with the pre-form generation. This includes, but is not limited to, heat treating, to align the properties of the material before finishing. Communication flow also does not typically flow linearly through the SoS, as very little interface exists between finishing and heat treatment systems. Without some oversight, communication between these steps may not exist at all, as illustrated in Figure 1.
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