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Characterizing complex product architectures
Author(s) -
Sharman David M.,
Yassine Ali A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
systems engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.474
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1520-6858
pISSN - 1098-1241
DOI - 10.1002/sys.10056
Subject(s) - computer science , abstraction , modular programming , design structure matrix , product (mathematics) , architecture , modular design , dependency (uml) , theoretical computer science , programming language , systems engineering , artificial intelligence , mathematics , engineering , art , visual arts , philosophy , geometry , epistemology
Due to the large‐scale nature of complex product architectures, it is necessary to develop some form of abstraction in order to be able to describe and grasp the structure of the product, facilitating product modularization. In this paper we develop three methods for describing product architectures: (a) the Dependency Structure Matrix (DSM), (b) Molecular Diagrams (MD), and (c) Visibility‐Dependency (VD) signature diagrams. Each method has its own language (and abstraction), which can be used to qualitatively or quantitatively characterize any given architecture spanning the modular‐integrated continuum. A consequence of abstraction is the loss of some detail. So, it is important to choose the correct method (and resolution) to characterize the architecture in order to retain the salient details. The proposed methods are suited for describing architectures of varying levels of complexity and detail. The three methods are demonstrated using a sequence of illustrative simple examples and a case‐study analysis of a complex product architecture for an industrial gas turbine. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 7: 35–60, 2004