Concurrent design process analysis and optimization for aluminum profile extrusion product development

Owing to intricate interdependency and information feedback among tasks, the concurrent design process probably cannot converge to the correct solution when there are wrong integration and improper interaction between activities. Therefore research on concurrent design process optimization is necessary. In the paper, a novel methodology is proposed to analyze and optimize the concurrent engineering process scientifically. Based on design structure matrix and graph theory, coupled task recognition and design task level plotting are performed for the concurrent design process of aluminum profile extrusion product development. Three factors are used to describe the coupling property of activity, namely sensitivity, complexity and affection factors, which provide the basis to analyze development process quantitatively. And an optimism algorithm is presented to define the initial iteration order of coupled task set. Finally a rational and efficient concurrent design process model is constructed, which can make aluminum profile product development faster, with lower costs and higher quality. The methodology proposed is also applicable to other concurrent engineering fields.