A Supernetwork-Based Model for Design Processes of Complex Mechanical Products

Yu-Jie Zheng, Yu Yang, Na Zhang and Yao Jiao
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Yu-Jie Zheng: College of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
Yu Yang: College of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
Na Zhang: College of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
Yao Jiao: College of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 8, issue 10, 1-25

Abstract: Complex mechanical products are a priority area of advanced manufacturing strategy in the USA and Europe. Excellent models for design processes of complex mechanical products are essential for managers or designers to manage design processes and further improve design efficiency. Multiple elements and complicated relationships between elements in the design processes of complex mechanical products cause difficulties in systematically and quantitatively expressing the design processes. Therefore, we put forth a supernetwork-based model for designing complex mechanical products. First, we identified the key elements in the design processes of complex mechanical products. Next, based on this we analyzed sub-elements of the key elements and relationships between sub-elements. Then we built sub-networks with sub-elements as nodes and their relationships as edges and the supernetwork model for design processes of complex mechanical products based on the sub-networks and their relationships. Meanwhile, we also present a method for combining linguistic variables with the corresponding triangular fuzzy numbers, and a max/min synthesis method to accurately compute the edge weights. Finally, we suggest the practical applications of the proposed model and give a comparison of the proposed model and existing ones to verify the feasibility and validity of this study.

Keywords: design processes of complex mechanical products; supernetwork; design structure; design tasks; design resources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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