Integrating vendors into cooperative design practices

Abstract

This paper describes a new approach to cooperative design using distributed, offthe-shelf design components. The ultimate goal is to enable assemblers to rapidly design their products and perform simulations using parts that are offered by a global network of suppliers. The obvious way to realise this goal would be to transfer desired component models to the client computer. However, in order to protect proprietary data, manufacturers are reluctant to share their design models without non-disclosure agreements, which can take in the order of months to put in place. Due to bandwidth limitations, it is also impractical to keep the models at the manufacturer site and do simulations by simple message passing. To deal with these impediments in e-commerce the modular distributed modelling (MDM) methodology is leveraged, which enables transfer of component models while hiding proprietary implementation details. MDM methodology with routine design (RD) methods are augmented to realise a platform (RD-MDM) that enables automatic selection of secured off-the-shelf design components over the Internet, integration of these components in an assembly, running simulations for design testing and publishing the approved product model as a secured MDM agent. This paper demonstrates the capabilities of the RD-MDM platform on a fuel cell-battery hybrid vehicle design example.

Co‐designing compliance to the Anti‐Money Laundering Act within the small and medium enterprise sector

“…Design can facilitate effective communication; a complex problem can often be tackled more effectively if key stakeholders collaboratively design the solution (Stappers et al, 2009, Eskil andSticklen, 2009). A participatory design approach, or a co-design, allows for sharing of real life experiences, helping in the understanding of the needs and desires of diverse stakeholders.…”

The routine design–modular distributed modeling platform for distributed routine design and simulation-based testing of distributed assemblies

“…The Internet-Engineering Design Agents group of Michigan State University successfully developed an infrastructure capable of supporting a community of MDM agents (Eskil et al, 2003; Radcliffe & Sticklen, 2003; Reichenbach, 2003; Eskil, 2004). The ensemble of MDM agents are capable of supporting Internet-based cooperative engineering design and simulation, but with the constraint of device knowledge hiding.…”

“…RD-MDM enables system integrators to rapidly design their products and perform simulation-based design testing using intellectually protected computational models that are distributed over the Internet. We handle the challenges mentioned above by utilizing the MDM methodology that was introduced by Byam and Radcliffe (1999), and later employed by the Internet-Engineering Design Agents group at Michigan State University (Eskil et al, 2003; Reichenbach, 2003). As we will detail in Section 3, the crux of the MDM methodology is to share input–output models of engineering artifacts without disclosing their internal connections or dynamics, hence protecting the proprietary information.…”