The development of a collaborative design chain reference model for the motorcycle industry

Abstract

A well-defined and flexible design chain reference model forms the basis for promoting collaborative design chain. The Special Interest Group under the Design Chain Council proposed the design chain operations reference (DCOR) in an attempt to assist enterprises building a design chain modeling frameworks. To date, DCOR version 1.0 only provides preliminary definitions, such as those for major design procedures, and lacks an example of best practices in the industry. Additionally, few studies have attempted this research issue. This study integrates the concepts of design chain, collaborative product design, and collaborative product commerce in a proposed collaborative design chain operations reference model (CDCORM) based on DCOR as a reference for developing a collaborative design chain system in the product lifecycle. The CDCORM consists of four hierarchical levels: collaborative design chain business model; collaborative design chain cooperative model; collaborative design-chain process model; and, a collaborative design chain operational model. Based on project management, the CDCORM has five core procedures-product plan, concept design, detail design, design review, and design amend. This study also assesses the effectiveness of the CDCORM by applying it to the motorcycle industry. In summary, this study extends the DCOR model and proposes a complete collaborative design chain reference model and implements a system in the motorcycle industry as a case study. This case study serves as a best practices example for the motorcycle industry.