Title: Simulating intertwined design processes that have similar structures: a case study of a small company that creates made-to-order fashion products

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

Addresses: Cambridge University Engineering Department, Engineering Design Centre, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB1 2RX, UK. ' Faculty of Maths, Computing and Technology, The Design Group, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK. ' Cambridge University Engineering Department, Engineering Design Centre, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB1 2RX, UK

Abstract: The authors use simulation to analyse the resource-driven dependencies between concurrent processes used to create customised products in a company. Such processes are uncertain and unique according to the design changes required. However, they have similar structures. For simulation, a level of abstraction is chosen such that all possible processes are represented by the same activity network. Differences between processes are determined by the customisations that they implement. The approach is illustrated through application to a small business that creates customised fashion products. We suggest that similar techniques could be applied to study intertwined design processes in more complex domains.

Keywords: design customisation; concurrent projects; resource limitation; design process; simulation; make-to-order; fashion products; product design; product development; small firms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2011.042296

International Journal of Product Development, 2011 Vol.14 No.1/2/3/4, pp.118 - 143

Published online: 27 Feb 2015 *

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