ICDM - an Integrated Methodology for the Conceptual Design of New Systems

It is well known and widely accepted that the conceptual design is a most influential step in the design process of a product or a system and that about 75% of the life cycle cost is committed in this stage. Therefore the best possible tools are needed to enable the best solution to be generated by the Integrated Product Development Team (IPT). The international standard on systems engineering mentions the concept stage as the first stage in a systems life cycle. The system Engineering theory tells you to develop candidate solutions, evaluate and choose, however there is no agreed to method as to how to meet this process requirement. In spite of its importance, in many cases, the conceptual design phase of a system does not get the appropriate amount of attention. For example, a detailed overview of the classical systems engineering process can be found in INCOSE handbook but the topic of conceptual design is mentioned only in general terms and not as an integral part of the system design activities. ICDM, a practical, proven and effective Integrated, Customer Driven, Conceptual Design Method has recently been introduced, for the design of New Products. ICDM integrates proven techniques with original additions and can be adapted to the need of any industry. The method has been evaluated, tested and successfully implemented in the Israeli high-tech industry. The purpose of this paper is to present and demonstrate the steps of ICDM for a simple product and then to show the application of the method for the conceptual design of new complex systems and complex high-tech products. The preferred approach to ICDM application for a new complex system is the top-down approach. First the overall customers' needs from the system as a whole are defined and the system concept is selected, then ICDM is applied to the relevant sub-systems and the levels below. Also the relationship of ICDM to SE standards will be discussed and some other modifications of the method for systems are shown. ICDM has been shown to be an effective tool for the design of the concept of new complex systems as well.