Problem Definition Phase Research Articles

Systematic Redesign of a Fire Hose Reel

Gives an elaboration of the systematic design approach on a practical level, i.e. the redsign of a fire hose reel. Describes the redsign process from the problem definition phase to the detail design phase. Looks at methods and techniques used during the design process and presents the design results of every phase from design specification to the relevant details of the new design. These design result have been used in the frequent communication between the client and the external engineering bureau Stevens & Van Vreeland. Gives special attention to the DFA‐method because assembly is a very important aspect (cost saving) for this product. Analyses and compares the old and new product using DFA. The advantages were to show explicitly (in terms of costs and assembly time) the obtained improvements, to optimize details in the new design and to invent some efficient assembly methods and tools. Finally shows the achievement of a reduction of assembly costs of approximately 50 percent.

ILAN Intelligent Local Area Network Planning Software

Abstract The objective of this research is to develop an analysis tool for evaluating a token bus topology, supporting the Manufacturing Automation Protocol (MAP). Furthermore this research describes an easy-to-use graphical interface for a complex simulation program. Specifically, a graphical user interface for MAP network simulation program is illustrated. Simulation of MAP sub-networks interconnected by bridges can be performed without further programming. This software, called ILAN, features a unique graphical user interface with message definition facility and an error-checking inference engine which advises users of any instances of duplicated or omitted information. ILAN's problem-definition phase is simplified by implementing a single graphical user interface for all inputs. Two main procedures within ILAN consist of a local area network simulation and an intelligent graphical interface with a unique graphical message definition facility. The simulation procedure includes the ability to model different numbers of multiple MAP sub-networks interconnected by bridges and different numbers of associations between stations using the token bus protocol. Higher layers in the protocol stacks are modeled as queues having variable delays for different messages at different stations. In order to aid users with the difficulty of inputting parameters needed to simulate complex MAP networks, a graphical user interface is developed. By means of this graphical interface, users can describe the MAP hardware configurations as well as message definitions to be simulated. Sequences of messages to be transmitted can be displayed on the screen as users describe them.