Title: Redesigning the design process through interactive simulation: a case study of life-cycle engineering in jet engine conceptual design

Authors: Warren Kerley, David C. Wynn, Claudia Eckert, P. John Clarkson

Addresses: Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK. ' Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK. ' The Design Group, Department of Design, Development, Environment and Materials, Faculty of Maths, Computing and Technology, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK. ' Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK

Abstract: Many aerospace companies are currently making the transition to providing fully-integrated product-service offerings in which their products are designed from the outset with life-cycle considerations in mind. Based on a case study at Rolls-Royce, Civil Aerospace, this paper demonstrates how an interactive approach to process simulation can be used to support the redesign of existing design processes in order to incorporate life-cycle engineering (LCE) considerations. The case study provides insights into the problems of redesigning the conceptual stages of a complex, concurrent engineering design process and the practical value of process simulation as a tool to support the specification of process changes in the context of engineering design. The paper also illustrates how development of a simulation model can provide significant benefit to companies through the understanding of process behaviour that is gained through validating the behaviour of the model using different design and iteration scenarios.

Keywords: jet engines; conceptual design; life-cycle engineering; LCE; process change; design process simulation; applied signposting model; ASM; aerospace industry; product design; process redesign; concurrent engineering; simultaneous engineering; engineering design; modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2011.041988

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2011 Vol.10 No.1, pp.30 - 51

Published online: 11 Mar 2015 *

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