A study on the Requirements to Support the Accurate Prediction of Engineering Change Propagation

Abstract

This paper builds on previous work in the area of design representation to identify the types of modeling information required to support the accurate prediction of engineering change propagation during the design of complex engineering systems. It uses the Function-Behavior-Structure (FBS) framework as a basis to examine how engineering changes can occur and how they may subsequently propagate. It was revealed that the relationship between change requirements and product components, the functional dependencies between product components, the behavioral dependencies between product components, and the structural dependencies between product components are all essential modeling information that need to be considered to fully describe the propagation of engineering changes. The essential modeling information identified can serve as modeling requirements to support the development of change prediction methods. In this work, three example design methods were discussed to examine the feasibility of using the modeling requirements for method evaluation. It was concluded that the level of accuracy achievable depends on the design context and hence a direct comparison between methods developed for different design contexts may not be meaningful. This suggests that accuracy should not be used as the sole criterion to evaluate change prediction methods. C⃝ 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng

Model‐based systems engineering for life‐sciences instrumentation development

“…From such endeavors, it is also straightforward to assume the feasibility of formal performance requirements verification since SysML allows for requirements and specification traceability. Likewise, we may conjecture that other tools of MBSD may further strengthen the legitimacy of the approach: Design Structure Matrices and change‐propagation analyses are becoming standard tools of SysML‐based MBSD . These can help trace dependencies, plan for system upgrade or redesign and perhaps support the rethinking of functional allocation even for the largest of CBPS currently existing (e.g., bench‐size clinical IVMT analyzers).…”

A methodology for identifying flexible design opportunities in large‐scale systems

“…The FDO‐DM provides the basis for both defining the system and applying the FDO Execution Model ( FDO‐EM , described in the next subsection). The FDO‐DM is built up generically (ie, without a specific architecture in mind) at a higher level of abstraction, as it is intended to be reused across, and adapted for, specific projects while running in early design phases, when “detailed change information is not readily available and an estimation of change impact is sufficient for further planning.” 46 This implies, on one hand, a high level of elements’ abstraction (eg, Objects ), while, on the other hand, documented relations being only potentially relevant to the context of a particular project, thus requiring confirmation in the project's specific context when running the FDO‐EM .…”

“…An exception is the CE s representing heuristics, which can vary in their level of abstraction from general design principles to very specific design guidelines, 47–49 and thus, are applicable for both variant design (changes within defined parameter ranges, such as “add cross‐bracings to a derrick structure”) and adaptive design (changes involving new parameters or new parameter ranges, such as “provide space around Object for spatial expansion”), as suggested by Koh 46 . This also applies to Enabler Reference Objects , which can be a specific Object or a generically defined part of the system (eg, structure or room).…”

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