Relational-Oriented Systems Engineering and Technology Tradeoff Analysis Framework

Abstract

In this paper, a new framework for performing early technology tradeoff and design studies, the relational-oriented systems engineering and technology tradeoff analysis framework, is developed and applied to an initial case study to conduct a trade between two candidate technologies for potential application on a commercial jet. Relational-oriented systems engineering and technology tradeoff analysis leverages the relational-oriented systems engineering methodology coupled with the exploitation of transformations used in modeling and simulation to create a direct association between the quality function deployment methodology and standard quantitative conceptual design space exploration techniques leveraged in technology forecasting and trade studies. This association brings precision to quality function deployment that is model driven and mathematically founded. The approach highlights key deficiencies in quality function deployment when applied to early phase design and technology tradeoff studies for the development of systems. Relational-oriented systems engineering and technology tradeoff analysis proposes a more rigorous and generalized mathematical framework for conducting generic quality-function-deployment-type exercises to support decision-making in early systems engineering and design, and the advantages of the relational-oriented systems engineering and technology tradeoff analysis framework are demonstrated through the application of relational-oriented systems engineering and technology tradeoff analysis to a small-scale aerospace technology tradeoff. Relational-oriented systems engineering and technology tradeoff analysis provides a means to begin to formalize and strengthen the relationship between quality function deployment, modeling and simulation, and theoretical mathematics, and it allows translation between these three approaches to engineering problems.