Product Development Requirements Research Articles

RECONSTRUCTION OF TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZED GEOMETRY WITH CASTING CONSTRAINTS IN A FEATURE-BASED APPROACH

AbstractTopology Optimization (TO) is an established method for the development of high strength and lightweight structural components. However, its results have to be geometrically revised to obtain a computational model that meets product development requirements. Design has to be in accordance with manufacturing constraints. Geometry reconstruction therefore still is a typically manual and tedious task, but increasingly supported by computational and automated approaches. In this paper, the inclusion of a casting constraint in an automated Medial Axis based reconstruction method is presented. Since the Medial Axis provides cross-section values by the computation of maximally inscribed spheres, this information is used for geometry reconstruction and even further for the purposeful adaption of the cross-section to match Heuver's circle method. Thereby, the directed solidification of molten material is considered. With a predefined feeder position, the demonstrator of a suspension control arm is used to show the application of the method. Resulting CAD-models are also structurally evaluated for their stiffness characteristics.

Systems Engineering Based Sustainability Improvement in Automotive Product Development

Affected by new trends, automobile companies have altered stakeholder requirements on their main product - the automobile. With enactment of new regulations concerning sustainability, new features appeared quickly, such as electrification, sharing services, autonomous mobility and so on. In this study, we present sustainability as a stakeholder and analyze the method of its realization in Systems Engineering (SE) based product development. Formula SAE provides a validated setting to conduct experiments on integrating sustainability into the classical product requirement architectures. By taking into consideration the use of SE or adding other methodological frameworks, findings can establish a new setting in sustainability research. The results of this study may be enlightening for scholars and practitioners and calls for further research on embedding sustainability requirements in automotive product development by using SE.

Concept for Maturity Assessment of Remanufacturing Ability in Production Process Development

Growing demand of consumer goods increases industrial production, which poses immense challenges towards resource management. Due to the finite nature of material resources used for production, their future availability is not assured and companies face higher material costs. Manufacturing companies with linear economic value-creation encounter difficulties in coping with increased material scarcity, prices and environmental regulations. A solution to these challenges is the circular economy, in which product life cycles are extended through multiple uses in various circulation strategies. One of the most resource-efficient circular strategies is remanufacturing, where components or products are reconditioned into an as-new or even improved condition and thereby reducing material resources and energy. Despite these advantages, manual time- and cost-intensive process steps in practice characterize current remanufacturing processes. This insufficient industrialization currently inhibits economic remanufacturing. One root cause for insufficient industrialization is that remanufacturing is currently not considered in product and production process development. Some approaches for including remanufacturing requirements in product development are referred as Design for Remanufacturing (DfRem). Corresponding guidance for considering remanufacturing requirements in production process development is missing. In this paper, a maturity assessment of remanufacturing capability in production process development is developed. Initially, a literature research is conducted to identify requirements for remanufacturing process steps that need to be addressed in production process development. Subsequently, the identified requirements are transferred into action areas concerning the remanufacturing process. These action areas are subdivided into action elements for a detailed description and subdivision regarding the principles of industrialization. Last maturity levels are derived for each element, which describe the degree of industrialization, and summarized in a maturity assessment. Regarding the realization of economic remanufacturing, the maturity assessment serves to create a holistic development concept and measures the remanufacturing capability of the developed production process.

Application Fields of Flexible Production Systems and Their Impact on Agile Product Creation

Agility is a central instrument for reacting appropriately to dynamic influences and enabling innovation capability. However, rigid production systems can no longer meet the requirements of agile product development and innovation processes. Flexible production systems like the 'Value Stream Kinematics' provide benefits for producing companies. In this research effort, the ‘Persona-method’ has been used to derive typical individuals who are influenced by a socio-technical system, specifically by a flexible production system. Based on these results holistic use cases of flexible production systems for the product development process and production system development were identified and described as well as discussed in detail. The comparison of agility barriers within industrial companies and the identified specific use cases of a flexible production system shows that agility barriers in product and production system development can be overcome by utilizing a flexible production system.

Prototyping to elicit user requirements for product development: Using head-mounted augmented reality when designing interactive devices

Designers of interactive devices are challenged by the need to accurately elicit user requirements from low-cost prototypes at the early stages of the design process. Head-mounted augmented reality (AR) can potentially assist in this process by economically representing physical-digital blended features with relatively high-fidelity prototypes. To explore this potential, we present and evaluate a head-mounted AR-enhanced hybrid prototyping system created in the context of a fan product development process. We conducted a mixed-methods study comparing the AR-enhanced prototyping method with a conventional prototyping method. The results reveal that the AR system can elicit similar user requirements as the conventional prototyping method with an improved overall experience.

OP29 Lifecycle Assessment Of Machine Learning-Derived Early Warning System. An Early Economic Evaluation Of An Intraoperative Hypotension Prediction Index

IntroductionAn iterative, life-cycle approach to the evaluation of healthcare technologies requires that clinical and economic evidence is collected since the initial stages of diffusion. Nevertheless, early cost-effectiveness models are challenging mainly due to the difficulties in estimating model parameters and faithfully characterizing parameter uncertainty. This is especially true with AI-based diagnostics, where attribution of effects on costs and patient-relevant outcomes is more challenging. Empirical applications of early-models are useful to identify the main challenges of iterative modelling and provide recommendations on best-practices. Here, we reported on a case study on a machine learning-derived hypotension predictive index (HPI), that predicts the onset of intraoperative hypotension and trigger corrective measures.MethodsA hybrid decision-tree/Markov model was developed comparing an HPI-based intervention protocol to standard-of-care intervention protocol during gynecological procedures. A short-term component of the model was populated using data from individual patients collected at one hospital in Italy. An historical control group was also defined using propensity score matching. Long-term costs and consequences of HPI were modelled using secondary data. A probabilistic version of the headroom approach was used to determine the maximum achievable price of HPI based on available evidence. Value of Information analysis was also conducted to identify the parameters that contribute the most to the overall uncertainty, and to identify optimal future study designs. Extensive deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to characterize the uncertainty over the cost-effectiveness of HPI.ResultsThe preliminary results of the analysis suggest that HPI has potential to improve patients’ outcomes and generate efficiency gains by reducing hypotension events and permanent complications, such as acute kidney injury. The link between reduction in hypotension and the rate of complications, or the long-term effects on healthcare costs and patients’ quality of life are the parameters that contribute the most to model uncertainty.ConclusionsEarly cost-effectiveness models are a valuable tool to inform further product development and evidence requirements, but characterization of uncertainty and transparency in modelling assumptions are key.

Remote customer interaction in frugal product development: model with customer evaluation

The objective of this paper is to deliver an efficient structured methodology for spatially distributed but collaborative frugal product development to fulfil the requirements of emerging markets. The utilisation of local content, customer feedback, and preferences are respected to enable the customisation of products and attributes in the customer's environment. Virtual customer inspection tool based on augmented reality is developed and presented for remote customer interactions, recording feedback, preferences, and customisations. The developed tool enables the interaction of the customer with the product in digital, semi-finished, and finished form, which is capturing customer experiences, integrates geographical spread, and validates the product in the customer's environment. To achieve this, the tool uses intelligent decision-making with the incorporation of analytic hierarchy process, where satisfaction evaluation of the customer is used to achieve optimal requirements for frugal product development. The developed tool and associated remote virtual customer interactions are demonstrated with use cases.

User Experience Design Practices in Industry (Case Study from Indonesian Information Technology Companies)

User Experience (UX) is a term that has received a lot of attention in the last decade. The number of industries whose consider the importance of implementing the UX design process within their development cycle has increased. Therefore, we think it is important to investigate how UX design processes are implemented in the industries. In this research, we take a qualitative approach with descriptive methods by investigating six information technology companies in Indonesia. As a result, we found that most of these information technology companies implement the UX design process as part of their operation and consider that the UX design process is an important part of software development. Each company has its order and priorities in regard to the UX design processes and only follows their established UX design process framework in order to meet their product development requirements. We also found that there are different UX design process approaches from these six companies.

SUSTAINABILITY IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION - DESCRIPTION AND COMPARISON OF TWO UNIVERSITY COURSES

AbstractSustainable products are becoming increasingly important for companies in order to succeed. However, the development of sustainable products poses a complex challenge, because alongside the classical product development requirements, additional social, economic and ecologic requirements arise. Despite the increasing relevance of this topic, sustainability is not yet fully integrated into the product development processes and mindsets within companies. Simultaneously, the integration of sustainability into engineering education is still insufficient and traditional teaching formats seem to be inadequate to teach such complex and multifaceted topics. Within this publication, the development, the contents and the implementation of two different university engineering courses for sustainability and environmentally compatible product development are described and compared. The different approaches to develop and incorporate sustainability into the engineering education and the usage of innovative teaching concepts are demonstrated to encourage and inspire other universities.

Incorporating Model-Based User Requirements in Product Development

Incorporating Model-Based User Requirements in Product Development

Development of smart products for elders within the Industry 4.0 context: a conceptual framework

Beyond the technological and managerial changes Industry 4.0 implies, society must cope with other challenges that may as well affect the economic and industrial scenario. Particularly the aging of the population presents itself as a singular challenge, to be faced on many fronts. The increasing number of elders amongst the population pushes industry to rethink its workforce, rearrange its workplace, and redesign its needed qualifications based on continuous learning strategies. On the other hand, the aging process also influences new business opportunities for emerging markets to arise as a result of new demands for products and services in the health and innovation area. How to cope with such challenges and profitably explore new business models remain questions to be answered. Seeking to shed some light on such topics, this study combined four elements to propose a conceptual framework for smart product development for the Silver Market. These elements are Industry 4.0 requirements for smart product development, Industry 4.0-related enabler technologies, the specificities of the Silver Market, and the User-Centered Design philosophy. Based on the analysis of success cases of smart product development for the Silver Market from a former European program, the framework suggests that for each of three particular product lifecycle stages there are specific Industry 4.0 requirements, which could be addressed with the aid of specific enabler technologies. By addressing the requirements in each lifecycle stage aided by the correspondent technologies and a user-centered design philosophy, the final product arises at the end of the process as more adequate to the clients’ real needs and expectations. Moreover, a way to fully adapt the company’s product development process to the context of Industry 4.0 can be paved.

Sustainable Circular Mobility: User-Integrated Innovation and Specifics of Electric Vehicle Owners

The circular economy (CE) represents an environmentally and sustainability-focused economic paradigm that has gained momentum in recent years. Innovation ecosystems are the evolving interconnected sets of actors, activities, artefacts, and institutions who are vital to the innovative performances of single actors or actor groups consisting largely of firms in the products and services sector. To develop sustainable CE ecosystems, participating firms need to involve the consumers and users in their innovation processes. The automotive industry is to a large extent an industry in which incorporating customer requirements in product development is critical to success. In addition, growing expectations and growing awareness of environmental issues drive the industry to develop environmentally friendly products. However, CE solutions and, specifically, sustainable tyres have not yet been given due consideration. Likewise, the specific preferences of the end-users of sustainability-focused cars such as electric vehicles (EVs) and users of biofuels are unknown in the CE context so far. Based on the current state of research, this article addresses an important, unexplored topic of product circularity. Being the first article on consumer interests and active contributions to CE automotive products, it also extends the first articles on CE software products. A survey of 168 traditional car owners (no EV/biofuels users), 29 users of biofuels, and 40 EV affine consumers was conducted in Germany to create an empirical foundation for the specification of CE configuration software for sustainable automotive products, particularly sustainable tyres. The results show different preferences among these user groups, but also the importance of other characteristics not captured by the distinction by car ownership. In particular, the perception of climate change and the use of test reports or rating portals were variables that had significant influence on configuration preferences.

Development of self-protective powder wire with diameter of 1.6 mm for automatic welding of pipe-lines joints root

The results of self-protective powder wire with diameter of 1.6 mm are presented. The working purpose is to create small-section powder wire and its manufacturing technology, designed for automatic welding of the root layer of the seam of non-rotating joints of main pipe-lines transporting oil and gas with admixture of hydrogen sulfi de, and providing increase of at least 1.5 times the productivity of pipe welding. The forming rollers for the initial billet with diameter of 2.4 mm of two-bend powder wire are developed. The composition of the charge fl uxcored wire, providing the requirements of product development: reliable penetration of the root layer of the seam fi xed joints of pipe-lines with tensile strength of the weld metal at 490 MPa. Recommendations on the production technology of self-protective powder wire of two-bend design are developed.

Ausbildungsfabrik Statorfertigung

The transformation process towards electric mobility results in new requirements for product development and production technology, which require the appropriate qualification of employees. In order to enable holistic further training, the wbk Institute for Production Engineering at KIT develops high-quality training concepts for the production of stators of electric traction drives by hairpin technology based on vocational pedagogical methods and integrates them into the overall concept of the training factory stator production.

Software requirement optimization using a fuzzy artificial chemical reaction optimization algorithm

In agile methods, software products are developed in several releases. In each release, a new set of requirements for development is proposed. Due to technical and non-technical problems, it is almost impossible to develop all the proposed requirements in the next release. The select of an optimal subset from among all the proposed requirements has become an important problem for the developer team. The aim of this problem is to select an optimal subset from among the requirements for product development in the next release so that it has the highest satisfaction to the clients and the lowest cost for the manufacturing company. Since this problem faces two conflicting objectives and several constraints, it is placed in the NP-hard problems category. In this paper, we intend to formulate this problem for the first time as a fuzzy multi-objective optimization problem. We intend to use an artificial chemical reaction optimization algorithm to solve this problem. In the implementation stage, we make use of five interactions between requirements as one of the constraints of the problem for the first time. Two randomized fuzzy synthetic datasets are used to do the experiments. The results of the proposed algorithm are evaluated using three criteria of multi-objective problems. The results and diagrams of the proposed algorithm are very reliable and can help the developer team to make a decision.

The paradox of resource availability and the perception of resource adequacy: the roles of psychological capital, perceived stress and age in the innovation process

ABSTRACTTechnology development usually occurs in a complex and dynamic environment, whether it is corporate venturing or a start-up. To increase the likelihood of success, a better understanding of resource requirements for new product development (NPD) and venture creation is needed. Prior research is contradictory: some development projects succeed with an overabundance of resources, while others succeed with constraints. This article addresses the relationship between resource availability and perceptions of resource adequacy. A conceptual model is proposed that links entrepreneurial judgment to resource perceptions. Psychological capital (PsyCap) is proposed as a moderator of entrepreneurial perceptions, with perceived stress and age as mediating variables. The article generates research implications for entrepreneurship, proposing new variables that affect new product and new venture initiatives. These issues are at the marketing/entrepreneurship interface, since they affect innovation and the product mix as industry conditions shift and NPD becomes critical for the success of product management.

A Robust Predicted Performance Analysis Approach for Data-Driven Product Development in the Industrial Internet of Things.

Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) is a ubiquitous network integrating various sensing technologies and communication technologies to provide intelligent information processing and smart control abilities for the manufacturing enterprises. The aim of applying industrial IoT is to assist manufacturers manage and optimize the entire product manufacturing process to improve product quality and production efficiency. Data-driven product development is considered as one of the critical application scenarios of industrial IoT, which is used to acquire the satisfied and robust design solution according to customer demands. Performance analysis is an effective tool to identify whether the key performance have reached the requirements in data-driven product development. The existing performance analysis approaches mainly focus on the metamodel construction, however, the uncertainty and complexity in product development process are rarely considered. In response, this paper investigates a robust performance analysis approach in industrial IoT environment to help product developers forecast the performance parameters accurately. The service-oriented layered architecture of industrial IoT for product development is first described. Then a dimension reduction approach based on mutual information (MI) and outlier detection is proposed. A metamodel based on least squares support vector regression (LSSVR) is established to conduct performance prediction process. Furthermore, the predicted performance analysis method based on confidence interval estimation is developed to deal with the uncertainty to improve the robustness of the forecasting results. Finally, a case study is given to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Product development resilience through set‐based design

AbstractOften during a system Product Development program, external factors or requirements change, forcing system design change. This uncertainty adversely affects program outcome, often adding to development time and cost, production cost, and can compromise system performance. We present a development approach that minimizes the impacts, by proactively considering the possibility of changes in the external factors and the implications of mid‐course design changes. The approach considers the set of alternative designs and the burdens of a mid‐course change from one design to another in determining the relative value of a specific design through the set‐based design methodology. The approach considers and plans parallel (redundant) development of alternative designs with progressive selection of options, including time‐versus‐cost tradeoffs and the impact change‐costs. The approach includes a framework of the development process addressing design and integration lead‐times, their relationship to the time‐order of design decisions, and the time‐dependent burden of design changes. We also compare set‐based and single point design schemes.

Experience-Based Decisional DNA (DDNA) to Support Product Development

ABSTRACTKnowledge and experience are important requirements for product development. The aim of this paper is to propose a systematic approach for industrial product development. This approach uses smart knowledge management system comprising of set of experience knowledge structure and decisional DNA (DDNA) along with virtual engineering tools (virtual engineering object, virtual engineering process, and virtual engineering factory). This system provides a new direction to researchers working on product development, especially designers and manufacturers. It will reduce their communication gap by allowing them to work on the same platform. The proposed system adopts an early consideration of manufacturing issues. Therefore, it can shorten product development cycle time, minimize overall development cost, and ensure a smooth transition into production. The proposed system is dynamic in nature because it updates itself after every time a new decision related to product development activity is made. Product development process can be performed systematically and efficiently using this system as it stores knowledge of experiences of different activities.

User selection for collaboration in product development based on QFD and DEA approach

User collaboration has been recognized as a critical factor in successful product development. To select the proper users who have a higher satisfaction to meet product development requirements, this study proposes an integrated approach based on quality function deployment (QFD) and data envelopment analysis (DEA). The proposed approach considers product development requirements, the inner dependencies of user evaluation criteria, and the relationships between requirements and criteria simultaneously and presents them in house of quality (HoQ). For the fuzzy and imprecise information in HoQ, fuzzy weighted average method is employed to determine the weight of each user evaluation criterion. Furthermore, to determine the priorities of users with a large number efficiently, this study implements linguistic variables to assess the weight of each user under each criterion, the DEA method to determine the optimal values of linguistic variables, and the simple additive weighting approach to aggregate the weight of each criteria and the local score of each user with respect to each criterion. An illustrative case is presented to demonstrate the applications of the proposed approach based on QFD and DEA in this paper.