Functional models represent a form independent blueprint of a product. As with any blueprint or schematic, a consistent language or coding system is required to ensure others can read it. This paper introduces such a design language, called a functional basis, where product function is characterized in a verb-object (function-flow) format. The set of functions and flows is intended to comprehensively describe the mechanical design space. Clear definitions are provided for each function and flow. The functional basis is compared to previous functional representations and is shown to subsume these attempts as well as offer a more consistent classification scheme. Applications to the areas of product architecture development, function structure generation, and design information archival and transmittal are discussed. [S1050-0472(00)00704-2]
Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Topics:
Flow (Dynamics)
1.
Stone, R., Wood, K., and Crawford, R., 1998, “A Heuristic Method to Identify Modules from a Functional Description of a Product,” Proceedings of DETC98, DETC98/DTM-5642, Atlanta, GA.
2.
Stone
, R.
, Wood
, K.
, and Crawford
, R.
, 2000
, “A Heuristic Method for Identifying Modules for Product Architectures
,” Des. Stud.
, 21
, No. 1
, pp. 5
–31
.3.
Ullman, D., 1997, The Mechanical Design Process, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, New York.
4.
Pahl, G., and Beitz, W., 1988, Engineering Design: A Systematic Approach, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
5.
Suh, N., 1990, The Principles of Design, Oxford University Press.
6.
Hubka, V., and Ernst Eder, W., 1984, Theory of Technical Systems, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
7.
Ulrich, K., and Eppinger, S., 1995, Product Design and Development, McGraw-Hill, New York.
8.
Schmidt
, L.
, and Cagan
, J.
, 1995
, “Recursive Annealing: A Computational Model for Machine Design
,” Res. Eng. Des.
, 7
, pp. 102
–125
.9.
Pimmler, T., and Eppinger, S., 1994, “Integration Analysis of Product Decompositions,” Proceedings of the ASME Design Theory and Methodology Conference, DE-Vol. 68.
10.
Shimomura, Y., Tanigawa, S., Takeda, H., Umeda, Y., and Tomiyama, T., 1996, “Functional Evaluation Based on Function Content,” Proceedings of the 1996 ASME Design Theory and Methodology Conference, 96-DETC/DTM-1532, Irvine, CA.
11.
Cutherell, D., 1996, “Chapter 16: Product Architecture,” The PDMA Handbook of New Product Development, Rosenau, M., Jr., et al., ed., Wiley, New York.
12.
Otto
, K.
, and Wood
, K. L.
, 1998
, “Reverse Engineering and Redesign Methodology
,” Res. Eng. Des.
, 10
, No. 4
, pp. 226
–243
.13.
Otto, K., and Wood, K., 1997, “Conceptual and Configuration Design of Products and Assemblies,” ASM Handbook, Materials Selection and Design, 20, ASM International.
14.
Akiyama, K., Function Analysis: Systematic Improvement of Quality Performance, Productivity Press, 1991.
15.
Miles, L., 1972, Techniques of Value Analysis Engineering, McGraw-Hill, New York.
16.
VAI (Value Analysis Incorporated), Value Analysis, Value Engineering, and Value Management, Clifton Park, New York, 1993.
17.
Collins
, J.
, Hagan
, B.
, and Bratt
, H.
, 1976
, “The Failure-Experience Matrix—a Useful Design Tool
,” ASME J. Eng. Ind.
, 98
, pp. 1074
–1079
.18.
Hundal
, M.
, 1990
, “A Systematic Method for Developing Function Structures, Solutions and Concept Variants
,” Mech. Mach. Theory
, 25
, No. 3
, pp. 243
–256
.19.
Koch
, P.
, Peplinski
, J.
, Allen
, J.
, and Mistree
, F.
, 1994
, “A Method for Design Using Available Assets: Identifying a Feasible System Configuration
,” Behav. Sci.
, 30
, pp. 229
–250
.20.
Malmqvist, J., Axelsson, R., and Johansson, M., 1996, “A Comparative Analysis of the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving and the Systematic Approach of Pahl and Beitz,” Proceedings of the 1996 ASME Design Engineering Technical Conferences, 96-DETC/DTM-1529, Irvine, CA.
21.
Altshuller, G., 1984, Creativity as an Exact Science, Gordon and Branch Publishers.
22.
Kirschman
, C.
, Fadel
, G.
, 1998
, “Classifying Functions for Mechanical Design
,” ASME J. Mech. Des.
, 120
, No. 3
, pp. 475
–482
.23.
Little, A., Wood, K., and McAdams, D., 1997, “Functional Analysis: A Fundamental Empirical Study for Reverse Engineering, Benchmarking and Redesign,” Proceedings of the 1997 Design Engineering Technical Conferences, 97-DETC/DTM-3879, Sacramento, CA.
24.
Little, A., 1997, “A Reverse Engineering Toolbox for Functional Product Measurement,” Master thesis, The University of Texas at Austin.
25.
Murdock, J., Szykman, S., and Sriram, R., 1997, “An Information Modeling Framework to Support Design Databases and Repositories,” Proccedings of DETC’97, DETC97/DFM-4373, Sacramento, CA.
26.
McAdams, D., Stone, R., and Wood, K., 1998, “Product Similarity Based on Customer Needs,” Proccedings of DETC98, DETC98/DTM-5660, Atlanta, GA.
27.
McAdams
, D.
, Stone
, R.
, and Wood
, K.
, 1999
, “Functional Interdependance and Product Similarity based on Customer Needs
,” Res. Eng. Des.
, 11
, No. 1
, pp. 1
–19
.28.
Stone, R., 1997, “Towards a Theory of Modular Design,” Doctoral thesis, The University of Texas at Austin.
29.
Karnop, D., Margolis, D., and Rosenberg, R., 1990, System Dynamics: A Unified Approach, Wiley, New York.
30.
Karnop
, D.
, 1990
, “Bond Graph Models for Electrochemical Energy Storage: Electrical, Chemical and Thermal Effects
,” J. Franklin Inst.
, 327
, No. 6
, pp. 982
–992
.31.
Breedveld
, P.
, Rosenberg
, R.
, and Zhou
, T.
, eds., 1991
, “Bibliography of Bond Graph Theory and Application
,” J. Franklin Inst.
, 328
, No. 5
, pp. 1067
–1109
.32.
Tipler, P., 1978, Modern Physics, Worth Publishers.
33.
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1996, “Human Factors Design Guide,” Federal Aviation Administration, DOT/FAA/CT-96/1, Atlantic City, NJ.
34.
Urban, G., and Hauser, J., 1993, Design and Marketing of New Products, 2nd ed., Prentice Hall, New York.
Copyright © 2000
by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.
