Design For X Research Articles

Advancing Circular Buildings: A Review of Building Strategies for AEC Stakeholders

The uptake of a circular economy (CE) in the building sector is challenging, primarily due to the complexity associated with the design process and the dynamic interaction among architects, engineers, and construction (AEC) stakeholders. The standard and typical design process and construction methods raise concerns about building life cycles. Buildings should not only fulfill current needs, but one also needs to consider how they will function in the future and throughout their lifetime. To address these complexities, early planning is required to guide designers in holistically applying systems thinking to deliver CE outcomes. This paper outlines a critical review of CE implementation in buildings, with a proposed trifecta of approaches that significantly contribute to the development of circular buildings (CBs). The findings outline a proposed visualized framework with a conceptual formula that integrates CE design strategies to simplify and enhance AEC stakeholders’ perception of the circularity sequence in buildings. By strategically integrating loop-based strategies with the value retention process (VRP) and design for X (DFX) strategies, along with efficient assessment tools and technologies, it becomes feasible to embrace a CE during the design phase. The outcome of this review informs AEC stakeholders to systematically and strategically integrate the critical dimensions of a CE throughout the building life cycle, striking a balance between environmental concern, economic value, and future needs.

Circularity Micro-Indicators for Plastic Packaging and Their Relation to Circular Economy Principles and Design Tools

Plastic packaging, in the form of films, brought several advantages to the commercialization of products given its lightness and durability. It provided better ergonomics, ease of transport, increased shelf life, and easy handling and use. Despite that, plastic packaging is facing enormous sustainability concerns associated with the traditional practice of linear economy, combined with commonplace irresponsible handling by citizens since it is almost exclusively designed for single-use and its end-of-life (EOL) management is not planned for. To mitigate that, the circularity of plastic packaging must be more clearly studied and evaluated through approaches such as micro-level circular economy (CE) indicators. This paper focuses on the selection of relevant CE micro-indicators specifically for the plastic packaging sector among the plethora of indicators available. Relations are also established between CE micro-indicators and CE guiding principles, as well as the most prevalent Design for X (DfX) approaches, providing new insights into how these different aspects of sustainability can be linked together. Results show three micro-level indicators as the most relevant for circularity calculation in packaging, namely those termed ‘MCI’, ‘VRE’, and ‘CEIP’, because their methodology and approach address most of the CE guiding principles and DfX approaches relevant for the packaging sector. Finally, guidelines and good practices to promote circularity adoption in the plastic packaging sector are highlighted. This work can guide companies aiming to adopt CE micro-indicators in their practical implementation, overcoming the significant knowledge barrier that currently exists.

Driving Sustainable Innovation: Exploring Lean, Green, Circular, and Smart Design

Driven by a technological transition, paradigms such as Lean, Green, and Circular Economy are increasingly being addressed by manufacturers to provide increasingly complex solutions. Whether considering products or services, design plays a decisive role in this context. Concurrent engineering and approaches to Design for X (DFX) have become commonly related to products and services, revealing the prominent potential to enhance product quality, improve sustainability performance, increase consumer satisfaction, and support the design of products, processes, and systems. However, many researchers have developed several DFX techniques with modified applications for different domains. This diversity makes it hard for practitioners and researchers when considering advanced technologies, to suit the current DFX with an integrated lean, green, and circular design perspective. In this regard, this paper aims to present a literature analysis concerning a potential model for the integration of four paradigms of management: lean, green, circular economy, and Industry 4.0 while considering DFX approaches. As a result, a framework that illustrates the connection between the fourth paradigm considered and the DFX approaches is presented. Our analysis would be useful to academics and practitioners since it indicates the field's key limitations and research lines.

Fenntartható terméktervezés: a környezeti terhelést csökkentő dfx technikák alkalmazása

This paper explores the integration of Design for Environment (DFE) principles within the broader framework of Design for X (DFX). In a world increasingly focused on environmental sustainability, understanding how DFE can be seamlessly incorporated into product design processes becomes paramount. Through a discussion of core DFE principles and analysis of case studies, this paper aims to elucidate methodologies that designers can adopt to create environmentally friendly products.

Design for circularity and durability: an integrated approach from DFX guidelines

The design of circular products is now a trending topic that involves enabling reuse, repair, refurbishing, remanufacturing, and upgrading parts and products. In this field, using Design For X (DFX) tools appears to be an interesting and helpful way to address requirements and considerations by applying single design rules that can enhance performance in terms of circularity. However, the current DFX approaches are not formally oriented to a circular economy (CE), and there is no clear pathway to apply design rules for circular products. Therefore, this article proposes a classification of DFX rules based on seven CE strategies related to slowing and closing the loop of products, parts, and materials. The proposed approach consisted of a literature review, an analysis of DFX rules related to CE, and the classification of such rules in terms of CE strategies and product design stages. The analysis of DFX rules in product circularity provided insights to generate a specific design guideline of 51 rules for circular products. The guideline was denominated as the Design for Circularity and Durability (DFCD) and is proposed as a design tool for practitioners, designers, and academicians in CE. A case study is also presented to demonstrate the implementation and benefits of the DFCD guideline.

An Artificial - Intelligent - Based System to Automate the Design of Complex Mechanical Products

Over the last decades, there has been growing pressure on industrial companies to offer to their costumers products with high quality, in the minimum deadlines and with reasonable prices. Since the design phase plays a key role to achieve these difficult goals, many traditional, DFX (Design For X) and integrated approaches have been proposed. However, many limits are still present. Thus, the main objectives of this work were first to identify these limits and then to overcome them by proposing and developing an automated framework for integrated product design. In this work, we automated the integrated DFMMA (Design For Materials, Manufacturing and Assembly) approach by developing an architecture composed of four levels, namely: the Common Information Modeling Level, the Selection Systems Level, the Inference and Computation Level and finally the Application Level. The proposed automated system is based on ontologies, on the CBR (Cases Based Reasoning) and the RBR (Rules Based Reasoning). The first main result obtained throughout the contributions consists on the integration of Manufacturing process selection, Assembly solution selection and materials selection in one integrated design approach. The second main result obtained consists on the exploitation of all the previous design studies developed by the design team and the ability to reuse the designers experience throughout the case based reasoning used in the proposed architecture. Another important result consists on the formalization and the automation of the execution of the design rules and the ability to infer new results and to check inconsistencies in the developed product using the data and information modeled in the ontological model and throughout the Cases Based Reasoning that we have incorporated in the developed approach. In this way, the redundancy in work and the difficulties faced in case of having a high number of design alternatives are avoided. Consequently, the product quality increases and wastes of time and money decrease. Finally, to validate the functioning and the efficacy of the proposed DFMMA system, an application on the design of a complex mechanical product is developed in the end of the work.

Exploring the Effectiveness of Providing Structured Design-for-the-Environment Strategies During Conceptual Design

Abstract The fuzzy front end of engineering design can present a difficult challenge, and as such, recent engineering design research has focused on guiding and influencing the way a designer ideates. Early ideation can be especially difficult when attempting to integrate specific design objectives in product design, called Design for X (DfX). This paper presents two experiments exploring the efficacy of a structured Design for the Environment (DfE) design method called the Guidelines and Regulations for Early design for the Environment (GREEn) Quiz that provides designers with sustainable design knowledge during the conceptual design phase. The GREEn Quiz operates on a web-based platform and queries the designer about their design concepts; an end-of-quiz report provides abstract DfE knowledge to designers. While this abstract knowledge was able to be applied by designers in a former study, we hypothesize that providing targeted, specific design strategies during conceptual design will enable novice designers to better integrate DfE. In this study, we created these DfE strategies, integrated these into the GREEn Quiz, and studied the efficacy of these strategies when presented to designers at both the expert and novice levels. Results suggest that respondents with access to the strategy-based GREEn Quiz produced concepts with evidence of a broader range of sustainable design decisions and higher solution quality scores. This work shows the promise of supplemental DfE methods for concept generation to enable the design of more environmentally sustainable products.

Methodology to Design for Product Service Supportability

In today’s world, processors must expertly structure sophisticated integrated remedies using modern technologies based on multiple functionalities demands and the rapidly changing perceptions of consumers. Due to this, it is considerably complete for the givers of Product Service Systems (PSSs) to attain all the essential designing requirements. Product designers have to focus on the essential objectives required by PSSs to attain in the whole lifecycle process based on various criteria and approach typically considered in trade-off balancing. Presently, Design-for-X (DfX) approach signifies the most fundamental projection to facilitate production developments based on features and stages of product lifecycle. It is considered that these stages and features support the designing of PSSs, product redesigning and developing engineered products based on x dimensionality with respect to supportability of services. In this paper, a methodology has been proposed for the generation of novel DfX protocols. As such, an application case in mold industry will be used to represent physical engineered productions, which are developed when services have been integrated or added.

Design for the environment: An ontology‐based knowledge management model for green product development

AbstractThrough appropriate operations and policies, such as green processes and product development process (PDP), companies can respond to environmental sustainability. To remain competitive, one such approach, Design for X (DFX), involves considering different environment and sustainable strategies through different factors Xs. With regard to the availability of different DFX techniques that consider environmental issues, the decision as to which approach needs to be adopted remains absent. This paper aims at presenting an overview from 1980 to 2020 of the developed research, applications, and DFX techniques for assessing green issues. Selected DFX techniques are linked with strategies used in organizations. Following a literature analysis, a collaborative knowledge‐based framework that addresses the design concepts needed to assess environmental, safety, and health concerns in the development of green products is proposed. Furthermore, as a pillar for considering the Semantic Web and an evolving approach linked with natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence (AI), an ontology‐based knowledge management model for green assessment is developed for the representation, acquisition, organization, and capitalization of knowledge in a computer interpretable manner. The findings are useful for both managers and practitioners as they provide a coherent domain ontology that can help them manage knowledge, improve teamwork, and make decisions in a collaborative green PDP. Besides, an understanding of the essential design considerations that are required to implement environmental, safety, and health issues, as well as competencies used in the PDP is presented. Key barriers, managerial and strategic implications, and mitigation actions are also identified in this paper.

Mathematical and Trade Based Optimization : "Synthetic" Method and Three Industrial Cases

The linear process of design-engineeringmanufacturing is nowadays obsolete. Even DFX (Design For X) methodologies are often replaced by Simulation for XFD (X being also Design) approaches. Optimization is also often applied before design. For instance, engineering design optimization of mechanical structures is nowadays essential in the mechanical industry (automotive, aeronautics ...). But optimizing mechanical structures cannot be efficient without taking in account other phases of the design-manufacturing process. In some cases, optimization is only based on trade kwnowledge. Engineers must then design parts or assemblies that are a better compromise, between mechanical and functional performance, weight, manufacturing costs etc. In this paper, after giving an overview on the different disciplines in design optimization of mechanical structures, we propose some trends to take into account the trade knowledge in the optimization/design phases. We propose an integrated approach to optimization in a functional design process with a methodological point of view. We present three different industrial cases of optimization on three examples : one in mechanical structures optimization, on based only on trade knowledge and the third mixing calculus and knowledge

MÉTODO PARA EL DISEÑO DE PUESTOS DE TRABAJO PARA PERSONAS CON TRASTORNO DEL ESPECTRO AUTISTA EN LA INDUSTRIA 4.0

The increase of studies in recent years on Autism Spectrum Disorder and its employability, is an opportunity for research focused on social and occupational inclusion of this group. The lack of inclusive jobs for this population is partly due to the absence of frameworks, methodologies and tools that allow the development of solutions for their adaptation. The main contribution is focused on the development of a model for the design of jobs for the empowerment of workers and articulated from the enactive paradigm in the context of Vygotsky's Activity Theory (AT), Ashby Variety Law (VL) and, supported by the Design for X (DfX) with a proposal of application to a case study for the industry 4.0. The proposed case study focuses on the design for the adaptation of an accessible workplace within an aeronautical component manufacturing plant that incorporates workers with ASD, with the intention of promoting the socio-labour development and inclusion of these individuals in an industrial, technological and innovative environment. KeyWords: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD); inclusive workplace design; Activity Theory (AT); Required Variety Law (RVL); occupational environment; design for ASD 4.0; design for X (DfX).

Axiomatic Design for ‘X’: An Integrated Methodology for Product Design. (Dept. M. ( Production ))

The Axiomatic Design (AD) introduces several benefits for product innovation, but it doesn’t account for all required concerns in product lifecycle. Integrating Design for X (DFX) is proposed here to enhance the results of AD and measure the performance of proposed product designs. The introduced methodology is referred to as Axiomatic Design for X (ADFX). This idea enables adding several design and usage requirements as functional requirements and/or design axioms in addition to design constraints in a flexible framework for product design. Furthermore, this idea can inspire robust mathematical models for product design by agglomerating objective and subjective product requirements. This paper provides a base for other directions in the product design research.

Design for relevance concurrent engineering approach: integration of IATF 16949 requirements and design for X techniques

With the growth of sustainability challenges, the automotive is regarded as one of the most important and strategic industries in the manufacturing sector. Reducing time in the product development process, seeking higher product quality, maintaining sustainable products, lowering product cost in the manufacturing process, and fulfilling customers’ requirements are the key factors of the success of a company. To achieve these requirements, automotive companies must consider the use of new sustainable models that ensure design efforts, customer, and societal needs from product ideation until its end-of-life. To do so, the leading companies adopt Design for X (DFX) as a concurrent approach, which considers several issues through different factors Xs. However, with the modified applications for various domains, several researchers have developed many DFX techniques. This multiplicity makes it difficult for researchers and practitioners to keep up with DFX development. Hence, the aim of this paper is first to use mixed and different techniques to organize and select the most prominent DFXs that consider quality and customer satisfaction strategies in designing automotive product. Second, a conceptual framework called, Design for Relevance (DFRelevance) is introduced. It addresses the design factors (guidelines) of each DFX and their associated modules to facilitate the collaboration between designers and all the project team during the whole product lifecycle. Furthermore, a modeling approach based on unsupervised learning is used to accomplish DFRelevance concerns. The aim of this approach is to cluster similar modules into homogenous groups to facilitate the simultaneous implementation of the concurrent engineering strategy.

Design for NVH: topology optimization of an engine bracket support

Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) issues are proven to be the main drivers for customer dissatisfaction in the latest years. This work relies on the framework of Design For X (DFX), specifically, Design for NVH. Main goal of this work was to perform a Topology Optimization (TO) of an engine bracket based on its vibrational behavior, in order to reduce the vibrations transmitted from the engine to the chassis and, consequently, improving the comfort for passengers. In particular, the target function was defined with the aim of increasing the first natural frequency of the bracket, whereas the bracket mass reduction was considered as a constraint function for the TO process. The vibrational characterization of the bracket was based on Frequency Response Function (FRF) analyses which, conducted via FEM (Finite Element Method), allowed to identify the resonant frequencies of the different bracket configurations built up during the TO. The FEM models included the cylinder head, with the related engine bracket support under optimization; the latter is connected to the bracket on which the simulation load was applied. The TO turned out to be effective in lowering the mass of engine bracket support of nearly 20% and, at the same time, increasing the first natural frequency of nearly 10%, this latter result was sufficient to guarantee an improvement of the comfort for passengers.

A systematic review of design for X techniques from 1980 to 2018: concepts, applications, and perspectives

Managing the new product development (NPD) is a challenging mission, and most researches would argue that design is fundamentally linked to intentional action and it cannot emerge out of complexity. In fact, its complexity is generated by a large number of entities and actors which cooperate simultaneously with an unpredictable way to understand what customers want and then design product with diverse objectives in mind. A slight change in one activity may cause tremors everywhere. Within a dynamic environment and in order to meet concurrently these challenges, several researchers have implemented design for X (DFX) techniques. Regarding the availability of numerous DFX, the decision as to which one to apply remains absent. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive overview of the most prominent DFX techniques with respect to sustainability dimension as well as the cost ownership and product differentiation strategies. In addition to that, complex product necessitates the consideration of integrated DFX to optimize product life cycle from a more holistic perspective. In this respect, the paper addresses a systematic review from 1980 to 2018 by investigating and discussing the past and current research of each DFX techniques as well as for integrated ones. The key problems and issues that future DFX research should address have been identified and discussed in this paper.

The PSS design GuRu methodology: guidelines and rules generation to enhance PSS detailed design

Manufacturers are often compelled to navigate the transition towards servitisation. In relation to this phenomenon, the present work focuses on design problems related to physical product enhancement when the addition of a service component is needed. A methodology generating the most suitable technical directions and design ideas to be followed during the integrated product-service system (PSS) design is provided. These design directions are deployed per the design for product service supportability approach on two different levels: guidelines (non-company and PSS specific) and rules (derived through design for X (DfX) approaches) specific to a company and a particular solution. An application case in an Italian company operating in the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration market is conducted.

The PSS design GuRu methodology: guidelines and rules generation to enhance PSS detailed design

Manufacturers are often compelled to navigate the transition towards servitisation. In relation to this phenomenon, the present work focuses on design problems related to physical product enhancement when the addition of a service component is needed. A methodology generating the most suitable technical directions and design ideas to be followed during the integrated product-service system (PSS) design is provided. These design directions are deployed per the design for product service supportability approach on two different levels: guidelines (non-company and PSS specific) and rules (derived through design for X (DfX) approaches) specific to a company and a particular solution. An application case in an Italian company operating in the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration market is conducted.

Lean Design-for-X: Case study of a new design framework applied to an adaptive robot gripper development process

Design-for-X (DfX) approaches continues to prove their importance to support design management in increased complexity products and towards sustainable development. Permanent increasing of market competitiveness lead the companies to narrow budgets and increase the application of Lean practices among their departments. Lean Design for eXcellence (LeanDfX) methodology was developed to cross Lean Thinking and Design-for-X project support, assessing multiple domains such as optimization, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, eco-design, modularity or adaptability. This approach brings a systematic applicability for design engineers and technical managers, assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of a given product design. A LeanDfX index metric, ranging between 0-100%, and original scorecard were created for consistent decision support for comparison of different design concepts or design versions of products, integrating different ‘X’ domains. In this work, the LeanDfX methodology results are presented for a real industrial case study related to a robot gripper design of a palletizing production cell.

DEVELOPMENT OF PEER TEACHING SUPPORTED DESIGN FOR X MODULES FOR SENIOR ENGINEERING DESIGN PROJECTS

Abstract – This paper presents initial results from a series of modules introducing Design for X (DfX) concepts to student project teams. DfX methods are recognised as a means to facilitate decision making throughout the design process and directly support the “Design” graduate attribute as defined by the Canandian Enginering Accreditation Board.
 In this senior design course, third and fourth year students are integrated into the same project teams, with the aim of promoting peer learning and leadership. Therefore, a flipped classroom approach was applied to the modules, followed by team-based reflection and discussion after which the appropriate DfX methods were to be applied within the projects. In the second semester third year students from each team were required to update the class on how these methods had been implemented in their projects.
 Preliminary results show active participation by the fourth year students, with varying levels of application of the tools within the projects. This paper will present specific examples of student led discussion and exercises surrounding DfX topics, as well as a qualitative evaluation of the application of DfX methods by the student teams. Recommendations for future improvement include the development of additional short duration, concrete, formative DfX activities for inclusion in the modules.

PSS design through Design for Supply Chain: State of the art review

Design for X (DfX) approaches are very important for designing products with a focus on whole lifecycle, to achieve cost reduction and product quality. The move to achieve competitiveness and unique offerings have resulted in the switch from a product to a Product Service Systems (PSS) business model. DfX concept is insufficient to address the complexity of PSS, therefore, additional concepts such as Design for Product Service Supportability (DfPSSu) are emerging. Existing research argued the role of support in ensuring customer satisfaction, revenue generation etc., which strengthens the motivation for PSS and servitization. The integration of support services into PSS has initiated the focus on DfPSSu, aiming at the synergic use of the different DfX approaches to concurrently support the services with the product features according their own heterogeneity. PSS complexity necessitates collaboration within the Supply Chain (SC) to deliver value to the customer, yet existing research focuses on individual firms. This highlights the importance of value creation in Design for SC (DfSC) in order to achieve competitiveness. This research would explore DfX from a value creation perspective while investigating the place of DfSC into the DfPSSu concept. This because DfSC encourages innovation in linking product design, process design and SC design together, according to the Concurrent Engineering paradigm. While there is need to DfSC, this idea is under-researched in literature. This paper would share the findings from a state of the art review of DfSC in relation to DfPSSu, identifying the evolution of the concept while identifying much research gap in understanding and application of this concept in theoretical and empirical research.