Title: Concept assessment and comparison of multifaceted engineering systems: an investigation of the function integrity indicator

Authors: Robert Lawrence Wichmann; Boris Eisenbart; Blair Kuys; Kilian Gericke

Addresses: School of Design & Architecture, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, Australia ' School of Design & Architecture, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, Australia ' School of Design & Architecture, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, Australia ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology, School of Product Development, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 2, Room 127, D-18159, Rostock, Germany

Abstract: Concept assessment of dissimilar engineering systems can be achieved by applying a function centric approach in order to quantitatively compare multifaceted entities. This research applied the function integrity diagnosis and documentation (FIDD) method to investigate the Function Integrity indicator (FIi) in an engineering change project with a public transport service provider. Two alternative design concepts were modelled using the integrated function modelling (IFM) framework and analysed for risk to function fulfilment. This case finds that the FIDD method supported engineering designers to compile discipline and domain specific information to inform system level decision making based on function integrity. Further implications for application and method development are discussed.

Keywords: design method; system modelling; risk management; concept assessment; function reasoning.

DOI: 10.1504/JDR.2023.133266

Journal of Design Research, 2023 Vol.21 No.1, pp.17 - 46

Received: 18 Apr 2022
Accepted: 03 May 2023
Published online: 04 Sep 2023 *

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