This paper presents a novel framework for managing design processes using a formal grammar as the theoretical foundation to represent, manipulate and execute design processes. The grammatical approach allows designers to represent a complex activity concisely with a small number of higher-level tasks and to explore alternative processes within a space of feasible alternatives. These capabilities allow the engineers to “visualize” the design process so that they can fully understand the alternative methods before making any design decisions. The framework, called MIDAS, includes separate layers for process specification and execution. Using the process specification layer, designers can capture the overall design process and each designer can understand his or her task with respect to the whole design process. In the process execution layer, design tasks are executed according to the information in specification layer so that designers can be informed of the current design status, alternative design methods, and their impacts in a whole design process. The framework has the potential to improve design productivity by accessing, reusing, and revising previous processes for a similar design. We use a gearbox design process to demonstrate the framework.
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September 2002
Technical Papers
Making Process Visible: A Grammatical Approach to Managing Design Processes
Moon Jung Chung,
Moon Jung Chung
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
**
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Patrick Kwon,
Patrick Kwon
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
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Brian T. Pentland
Brian T. Pentland
Department of Accounting and Information Systems, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
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Moon Jung Chung
**
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Patrick Kwon
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Brian T. Pentland
Department of Accounting and Information Systems, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Contributed by the Design Theory & Methodology Committee for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received November 1998. Associate Editor: J. Cagon.
J. Mech. Des. Sep 2002, 124(3): 364-374 (11 pages)
Published Online: August 6, 2002
Article history
Received:
November 1, 1998
Online:
August 6, 2002
Citation
Chung, M. J., Kwon, P., and Pentland, B. T. (August 6, 2002). "Making Process Visible: A Grammatical Approach to Managing Design Processes ." ASME. J. Mech. Des. September 2002; 124(3): 364–374. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1487358
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