69 research outputs found
Rationality in systems engineering : Beyond calculation or political action
No full textThis paper is written in favor of rationality in systems engineering. Operational rationality is the foundation for the improvement of quality, cost, and delivery (QCD) that leads to continued success in the market place. On both sides of operational rationality lie pitfalls that plague most systems-engineering decision making. On one side lies hand waving and political action. On the opposite side lies mathematical certainty, very enticing to the educated mind, but lacking in broad decision-making capability. In this paper we set forth the principles of operational rationality in systems engineering. These principles guide the evaluation, improvement, and development of systems-engineering practices and methods
The Pugh Controlled Convergence Method: Model-Based Evaluation and Implications for Design Theory
No full textThis paper evaluates the Pugh Controlled Convergence method and its relationship to recent developments in design theory. Computer executable models are proposed simulating a team of people involved in iterated cycles of evaluation, ideation, and investigation. The models suggest that: 1) convergence of the set of design concepts is facilitated by the selection of a strong datum concept; 2) iterated use of an evaluation matrix can facilitate convergence of expert opinion, especially if used to plan investigations conducted between matrix runs; and 3) ideation stimulated by the Pugh matrices can provide large benefits both by improving the set of alternatives and by facilitating convergence. As a basis of comparison, alternatives to Pugh's methods were assessed such as using a single summary criterion or using a Borda count. These models suggest that Pugh's method, under a substantial range of assumptions, results in better design outcomes than those from these alternative procedures
An evaluation of the pugh controlled convergence method
No full textThis paper evaluates a method known as Pugh Controlled Convergence and its relationship to recent developments in design theory. Computer executable models are proposed simulating a team of people involved in iterated cycles of evaluation, ideation, and investigation. The models suggest that: 1) convergence of the set of design concepts is facilitated by the selection of a strong datum concept; 2) iterated use of an evaluation matrix can facilitate convergence of expert opinion, especially if used to plan investigations conducted between matrix runs; and 3) ideation stimulated by the Pugh matrices can provide large benefits both by improving the set of alternatives and by facilitating convergence. As a basis of comparison, alternatives to Pugh's methods were assessed such as using a single summary criterion or using a Borda count. The models we developed suggest that Pugh's method, under a substantial range of assumptions, results in better design outcomes than those from these alternative procedures.</p
An investigation of the penetration of Taguchi quality engineering in five U.S. corporations
No full textThesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1988.Title as it appeared in MIT Graduate list, June, 1988: An investigation of the implementation of Taguchi method quality engineering in five U.S. corporations.Bibliography: leaves 111-115.by Jeffrey A. Morrow.M.S
Quality function deployment : a study of implementation and enhancements
No full textThesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1992.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-133).by Amitabh Pandey.M.S
Managing variation during preproduction activities
No full textThesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1994, and Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1994.Includes bibliographical references (p. 100-102).by Shawn P. Patterson.M.S
The Quality Management of New Product Design and Development
No full textThe quality management of a modern complex product from design to
production is very complicated matter which involves the whole company as well
as external bodies (customer and supplier etc).
In this thesis, based on customer-oriented principles, major management
techniques, creating a time phased quality management programme to approach
the quality related design processes, combines with the development of a
quantitative method to measure the quality achievement of each design activity,
including each phase and the overall design stage, for their correctness and
efficiency in terms of time, cost and performance.
A practical example is given for demonstrating the validation of the
quantification.
Through proper tailoring, the time phased quality management programme can
be applied to different types of product, simple and complex, and to hardware
and software, as well as to totally new design or partial design improvement.
A quality information system is also developed to enhance the efficiency and
effectiveness of the design and development process and to obtain improved
product performance.
Through a systematic analysis of the design process, it is shown that the
majority of the steps taken are amenable to discipline and control and,
therefore, design can realistically be included in a formal quality management system
Increasing the effectiveness of product development teams : a study of quality function deployment and time-to-market drivers
No full textThesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1994.Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-96).Over the last two decades, manufacturing expertise and quality have been a prime focus of most companies. As the playing field becomes more level in these areas, however, more companies are looking for other sources of competitive advantage. One area which has come under increasing attention is that of product development. This thesis researches methods for increasing the effectiveness of product development teams. It looks at ways to enhance the ability of these teams to deliver a product with a high degree of customer satisfaction in a compressed amount of time. The author spent six months at a consumer product company where a case study was done on the use of a product development tool called quality function deployment (QFD). Implementation and effectiveness issues of QFD were researched, with the conclusion that QFD is a useful tool for structuring the product development process, but that it must be used as part of an overall project strategy, and not as the main strategy itself Also researched was whether or not design team participation in customer interviews would affect the team members' commitment to and alignment with customer needs. Although a detailed research design was planned and carried out, no statistically conclusive results could be determined from the data. The author speculates that one of the major drivers of these inconclusive results was the team's focus on schedule. This time-to-market pressure was studied in more detail in order to determine its root causes. The research indicates that for many product development projects the root causes of time-to-market pressure span the whole hierarchy of the company, and this hierarchy can be broken into four levels: the level of the firm, level of the project, level of the individual, and level of the task.by Mark Martin.S.M
Strategic resuability planning and management in product development
No full textThesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1997.Includes bibliographical references (p. 125-126).by Ahmed Yahia.M.S
Research in engineering design: the role of mathematical theory and empirical evidence
No full textThe editors of this journal have offered an opportunity to
reply to Dr. Hazelrigg’s letter in depth. Indeed, with its
numerous points of critique of the paper ‘‘The Pugh Controlled
Convergence method’’ (Frey et al. 2009) stated so
strongly, the letter demands a detailed rebuttal. We provide
a response to the specific points discussed in the letter as
well as the broader issues raised. Writing on these topics
has been an opportunity to explore some issues of interest
to us, including the role of mathematical theory and
empirical science in design research. To pursue this fully,
additional authors participated to add more varied expertise
on social sciences, preference measurement, and industry
practices. We hope that our response will do more than
defend the paper; we hope that it will also suggest some
constructive paths forward in design research.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (grant #0448972
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