Model-Based Engineering Design for Trade Space Exploration Throughout the Design Cycle

Concurrent engineering: Automation, tools, and techniques

This research focuses on the development of a quantitative intelligent system for implementing concurrent engineering design. The paper first discusses the task of concurrent engineering design and the basic requirements for conducting integrated concurrent engineering design. The proposed quantitative intelligent system approach combines qualitative reasoning, based upon design and manufacturing knowledge, and quantitative evaluation and optimization, conducted using design information and manufacturing data generated in the knowledge-based reasoning. The method allows considerations on non-operating principle aspects of a product to be incorporated into the design phase, such as manufacturing, maintenance, service, recycle, etc., with an emphasis on production costs. The proposed method serves as a convenient software tool for gathering information required in the concurrent engineering design process and integrates tasks from different parts of the product development life cycle, particularly function design, manufacturability analysis and production cost estimation. A prototype software system is developed based upon this method using Smalltalk-80. In the prototype system, concurrent engineering design is carried out by: (1) describing and representing design requirements; (2) generating feasible design candidates and evaluating their design functions; (3) representing design geometry; (4) finding the associated production processes and predicting the production costs of each feasible design; and (5) identifying the costeffective design that satisfies given design requirements and requires minimum production costs.

As products become ever more diversified, their life cycles are becoming shorter. To reduce production costs, increased process automation and concurrent design are priorities. Therefore, a collaborative integrated design system is crucial in the mold design and manufacturing process. This research develops a collaborative navigation system for concurrent mold design within the computer-aided design (CAD) browser, using Pro/Web.Link as the core tool. Providing both concurrent engineering and collaborative design functions, the navigation system is capable of assisting designers in accomplishing 3D mold development efficiently and accurately with the help of the standard component library and design decision-making system. The results show significant time savings over other mold design process methodologies.

North American undergraduate mechanical engineering design education has failed to meet the needs of industry in educating students in effective design philosophies typified by the concurrent engineering design philosophy. Current programmes emphasize traditional engineering analysis courses, leaving little room for truly educating the students in the fundamentals of mechanical engineering design. This paper uses the concurrent engineering design paradigm to design a programme for the education of students in mechanical engineering design. The basics of concurrent engineering design are outlined, the failings of typical design education stated, and an exploration of the required features of a new design curriculum presented.

An integrated graphical user interface (GUI) for concurrent engineering design of mechanical parts

An Internet-enabled integrated system for co-design and concurrent engineering

7. Concurrent engineering and collaborative design

Total quality tolerance (TQT) has been widely recognised as a strategic weapon for improving manufacturing performance. The evaluation of quality tolerance efficiency can assist factories in improving their operations across a variety of dimensions. Effective benchmark of high performance in tolerance design, dimension analysis, machinability and assemblability are identified for improving the quality tolerance in manufacturing units. In this paper, drive shaft assembly is considered which is adopted from literature and finding the overall quality tolerance through neuro-fuzzy flow diagram method for different level with minimum inputs are analysed in different fuzzification range values to get optimisation in overall quality tolerance. The characteristics of neuro-fuzzy, multi-stage evaluation and decision making in concurrent product design process are also analysed and a decision support system for tolerance design in concurrent engineering is presented.

Concurrent engineering, the practice of simultaneously designing a product and its manufacturing system, is generally viewed as a major source of Japanese competitive advantage (Clark & Fujimoto, 1991). U.S. companies have rushed to construct structured design processes and multifunctional, often colocated teams in order to compete (Nevins & Whitney, 1989). Ironically, however, we discovered in our research that most managers at Japanese auto companies are fairly new to concurrent engineering, which many regard as a Toyota invention. Equally paradoxical, our research found that managers at Toyota, which has long experience with concurrent engineering, made little use of many commonly touted “crucial elements” of successful concurrent engineering. Toyota uses neither colocated nor dedicated multidisciplinary teams, and significant portions of the development process remain relatively unstructured.

Over the past decade the software products available for solid modeling, dynamic, stress, thermal, and flow analysis, and computer-aiding manufacturing (CAM) have become more powerful, affordable, and easier to use. At the same time it has become increasingly important for students to gain concurrent engineering design and systems integration experience. The purpose of this paper is to communicate the dramatic effect that the new software has had on the way that mechanical drawing and engineering design are taught at Daniel Webster College (DWC). The two year design experience at DWC is more extensive than the design experience that students normally have during the first two years of most four-year engineering programs. The evolution of this design experience will be presented. Three of the presenters of this paper are students. Two will present robotic arm projects; the third will present a supersonic gun project.

L ong Beach was our 78th convention. We experienced stimulating general sessions, and numerous, informative concurrent sessions. The technology in support of presentations has advanced with sophisticated computer-based software that allows for convenient multimedia uses. Presenters made effective use of these communication techniques. As I sat in concurrent session, I thought back to my first AECT convention in 1952. There were general sessions and many concurrent sessions then also, with audiovisuals used in most presentations. At that time, overhead transparencies often called "vugraphs," were commonly prepared by writing on clear acetate sheets with felt pens; also 2" by 2" slides and 16ram film clips were shown by speakers. In each session, the audience sat, listened, took notes (few handouts were used), and sometimes had the opportunity to ask questions. As now, the attendees "networked" (a meaningless word in '52) among themselves. We left the convention generally pleased with what we had seen, heard, and learned, including useful information at the trade show. While the technology has appreciably changed in these 48 years, I noted that the convention format remains practically the same. These questions came to mind: 9 Are our convention programs doing a better job for attendees today? 9 Do we conveniently provide for individuals' varying interest levels and session content knowledge ? 9 Could we be using more of our knowledge about effective ways to communicate, allowing more flexibility for attendees to acquire desired information, encouraging greater interaction, and in other ways better serving the way adults prefer to engage in convention activities? 9 Could we not apply some of the ideas we are fostering for training and education in our professional work-l ike a flexible approach through self-directed activities for acquiring information on a convention topic, followed by small group meeting with a presenter? 9 Would it even be sensible to explore some versions of "distance learning" for orientation purposes and even some presentations by using the convention hotels' closed-circuit television facilities? Relate these questions to what goes on during a convention. According to the schedule, each attendee must choose which concurrent session to attend, sometimes from among up to 20 sessions offered at the same time. Difficult decisions for anyone. Also, when having to attend a committee meeting, one would miss an important session. Then when we see a person leave a session is it a lack of interest, the desire to attend another session, or an appointment. Other individuals may come into a session late and miss the introduction and important information. Then there are those who want to talk with the speaker at the end of the session, but may not be able to do so because of their tight schedule. I was first concerned with these matters back in 1972 when I was AECT's president. I asked myself, "Must we adhere to the traditional theatre-style room arrangement with only sit-listen-watch in concurrent sessions." With a colleague at that time, Art Suchesk, we tried a new approach. One day we set up numerous self-study carrels using audiotape, slide/tape, filmstrip/tape, video, and even some primitive response system program presentations, with which attendees, individually or in small groups, on their own selected time, could acquire information on a topic. Then they would meet with the program presenter at a scheduled time for discussion. We communicated with all interested presenters for their preparation of necessary study materials and then arranged for the equipment and duplicate copies of their media resources. Admittedly, at that time this wasn't an easy program segment to arrange and offer. We had wonderful cooperation from trade show vendors and graduate students and the local university. The attendees evaluated this innovative convention feature very favorably. But after '72, no following convention picked up on this approach. It certainly makes me think of many new ideas I observed or experienced during my career, that faded for any of several reasons. With the remarkable equipment and software we have access to today, might not forthcoming convention programmers consider innovating parts of the program, just as we are striving to transform training and educational programs in our professional activities? This could be a great leadership opportunity for educational technologists. Remember, we will be meeting with the National School Board Association in October and could create a favorable impression. What do you think?

Computer Aided Engineering tools and technologies that hold the potential for creating a simulation based Concurrent Engineering environment in the near-term and a design optimization based capability for the future are analyzed. Technical challenges and opportunities associated with integrating these tools into a software environment that can support multidisciplinary engineering teams are defined and illustrated. A road map for evolutionary creation of a simulation based Concurrent Engineering design environment in the near-term and a design optimization environment in the longer term is presented. Projects underway to create the capability advocated by the road map are presented, to illustrate technical considerations peculiar to Concurrent Engineering of mechanical systems and challenges associated with network based multidisciplinary CAE system integration for Concurrent Engineering.

In this paper, we apply Taguchi Methods in the framework of concurrent engineering design for robot-based manufacturing sys tems to obtain higher accuracy and repeatability for robot end-effectors. It is well known that the configurations of robot end-effectors in workspace will affect the accuracy and repeatability Taguchi Methods are employed to find the configuration and location within which the accuracy and repeatability are the best. The optimal position with higher accuracy and repeatability is determined by using the signal-to- noise ratios (S/N ratios), which are defined according to the "smaller-the-better" characteristics of Taguchi Methods to measure the accu racy and repeatability The results match well with the theoretical analysis of the repeatability and accuracy of the end-effector based on the kinematic relationship. In addition, we also study the random and systematic errors due to joint uncertainties and examine their effects on the accuracy and repeatability. The analysis using S/N ratios yields results that are consistent with expectation. The results demonstrate that Taguchi Methods and S/N ratios are very useful tools in design for accuracy and repeatability of robotic end-effectors. The sensitivity and consistency of accuracy with respect to the tolerance of joint angles are represented by 3D surfaces. The tolerance design is per formed, using the sensitivity analysis, to satisfy requirements stipulated by design criteria One of the significant results of consistency analysis is the "threshold" value of tolerance for concurrent engineering design considerations. Simulation results show that the consistency of accuracy and repeatability will be increased dramatically once the tolerance is below such a threshold Both sensitivity and consistency analysis are shown to be important in tolerance design for achieving the desired accuracy and repeatability and for enhancing quality.

This paper describes a detailed use of Systems Engineering, Concurrent Engineering and agile design methods and techniques applied within a High-Altitude Balloon (HAB) project, carried out within a time frame of 1.5 months from the mission statement draft and initial design tolaunch and recovery. The report outlines the advantages of systems thinking throughout the mission and provides a detailed guide for the use of Systems Engineering in future HAB projects.

CONCURRENT ENGINEERING APPROACH TO FMS DESIGN USING A BLACKBOARD ARCHITECTURE