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FBS Linkage ontology and technique to support engineering change management

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Abstract

Engineering changes are essential for any product development, and their management has become a crucial discipline. Research in engineering change management has brought about some methods and tools to support dealing with changes. This work extends the change prediction method through incorporation of a function–behaviour–structure (FBS) scheme. These additional levels of detail provide the rationales for change propagation and allow a more proactive management of changes. First, we develop the ontology of this method based on a comprehensive comparison of three seminal functional reasoning schemes. Then, we demonstrate the FBS Linkage technique by applying it to a diesel engine. Finally, we evaluate the method.

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Abbreviations

CAM:

The Cambridge Advanced Modeller

CPM:

The change prediction method

DMM:

Domain mapping matrix

DRM:

The design research methodology

DSM:

Design structure matrix

EC:

Engineering change

FBS:

Function–behaviour–structure

FBSta:

The function–behaviour–state framework

FBStr:

The function–behaviour–structure framework

FR:

Functional reasoning

MDM:

Multidomain matrix

SBF:

The structure–behaviour–function framework

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Professor David C. Brown (Computer Science Department, Worcester Polytechnic Institute) for the insightful discussions about functional reasoning and his helpful feedback for the model, Seena Nair (Engineering Design Centre, University of Cambridge) for her support with CAM, Paul N. Turner and Sean G. Harman from Dagenham Diesel Centre of Ford Motor Company for evaluating the method and the diesel engine model, and the Perkins Engine Company for enabling the diesel engine case study. This work was funded by a UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Doctoral Prize.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering, Engineering Design Centre, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK

    Bahram Hamraz & P. John Clarkson

  2. Department of Science and Technology, University Campus Suffolk, Waterfront Building, Neptune Quay, Ipswich, IP4 1QJ, UK

    Nicholas H. M. Caldwell

  3. Department of Engineering, Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge, 17 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge, CB3 0FS, UK

    Tom W. Ridgman

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  1. Bahram Hamraz
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  4. P. John Clarkson
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Correspondence to Bahram Hamraz.

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Hamraz, B., Caldwell, N.H.M., Ridgman, T.W. et al. FBS Linkage ontology and technique to support engineering change management. Res Eng Design 26, 3–35 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-014-0181-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-014-0181-9

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