Date of Award

2007

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Department

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The intent of this research was to engineer a collaborative data management system for an assembly facility supplying prototype products to a development and test centre. During the assembly of prototypes, multiple parts and subcomponents are exposed to engineering design changes, necessitating meticulous documentation and archiving of the bills of material. The findings from this research suggest, by using sound engineering methodologies and by extending the research to multiple fields of science, it is possible to design a data management system that has analytical proof for being robust and simple in its design. Robustness of the design is proven using a novel approach combining Axiomatic Design with the House of Quality. Improvements are mathematically evaluated by calculating the complexity of the designs using an innovative complexity formula originating from this research. A step-by-step approach is also developed, lending this research to be a framework for future design improvements.

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