Predicting change propagation in complex design

P. John Clarkson, Caroline Simons, Claudia Eckert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

641 Scopus citations

Abstract

In redesign and design for customization, products are changed. During this process a change to one part of the product will, in most cases, result in changes to other parts. The prediction of such change provides a significant challenge in the management of redesign and customization of complex products where many change propagation paths may be possible. This paper reports on an analysis of change behavior based on a case study in Westland Helicopters of rotorcraft design; the development of mathematical models to predict the risk of change propagation in terms of likelihood and impact of change; and the development of a prototype computer support tool to calculate such information for a specific product. With knowledge of likely change propagation paths and their impact on the delivery of the product, design effort can be directed towards avoiding change to "expensive" sub-systems and, where possible, allowing change where it is easier to implement while still achieving the overall changes required.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)788-797
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Mechanical Design, Transactions of the ASME
Volume126
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2004
Externally publishedYes

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