Managing Iteration

Research Theme: Process Management

The aim of this project is to supportiteration management by providing an explanatory framework to better understand the causes and effects of iteration, and a simulation modelling method to evaluate the impacts of iteration on process behaviour and performance.

Motivation Iteration is considered to be one of the most fundamental characteristics of engineering design and can have significantimpacts on product development quality, time and cost. Yet planning and managing iteration is challenging because the relationships between its causes and effects are complex. Most approaches which use mathematical models to analyse the impact of iteration on the design process focus on a relatively small number of its causes and effects. Therefore, insights derived from these models may not be robust under a broader consideration of potential influencing factors. Objectives

  • Understand the different causes and reasons of design iteration.

  • Understand the effects of different iteration forms on process performance.

  • Develop a simulation modelling framework to explore ways to reduce the negative impact and enhance the positive impact of iteration in design processes,through manipulation of process management levers and through process engineering.

The aim of this project is to support iteration management by providing an explanatory framework to better understand the causes and effects of iteration, and a simulation modelling method to evaluate the impacts of iteration on process behaviour and performance.

Motivation Iteration is considered to be one of the most fundamental characteristics of engineering design and can have significant impacts on product development quality, time and cost. Yet planning and managing iteration is challenging because the relationships between its causes and effects are complex. Most approaches which use mathematical models to analyse the impact of iteration on the design process focus on a relatively small number of its causes and effects. Therefore, insights derived from these modelsmay not be robust under a broader consideration of potential influencing factors. Objectives

  • Understand the different causes and reasons of design iteration.

  • Understand the effects of different iteration forms on process performance.

  • Develop a simulation modelling framework to explore ways to reduce the negative impact and enhance the positive impact of iteration in design processes, through manipulation of process management levers and through process engineering.

Details

An explanatory framework of iteration causes and effects was synthesised based on the review of product development literature. This framework is incorporated into the development of an integrated analytical method. The approach can be applied to explore the impact of iteration on process performance in a more holistic way than existing approaches, and hence to support iteration management. Acknowledgements Support for this project is provided by the EPSRC and the Cambridge European Trust.  

Selected Publications

  • LE, H.N., WYNN, D.C. and CLARKSON, P.J. (2010) 'Re-designing PD process architecture by transforming task network models into system dynamics models' in 11th International Design Conference (DESIGN 2010), Dubrovnik, Croatia
  • LE, H.N., WYNN, D.C. and CLARKSON, P.J. (2010) 'Modelling the influence of uncertainty, process architecture and feedback dynamics on PD projects' in 12th International Dependency and Structure Modelling Conference (DSM 2010), Cambridge, UK
  • LE, H.N., WYNN, D.C. and CLARKSON, P.J. (2010) 'Evaluating the impacts of iteration on PD processes by transforming task network models into system dynamics models' in ASME 2010 International Design Engineering Technical Conference & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (IDETC/CIE 2010), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  • LE, H.N., WYNN, D.C. and CLARKSON, P.J. (2010) 'Evaluating the positive and negative impact of iteration in engineering processes' in 1st International Conference on Modelling and Management of Engineering Processes (MMEP 2010), Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK