Assessing Process Sequences in Engineering Design by DSM-based System Dynamics Simulation

This paper presents an approach to assess different process sequences in engineering design by simulating their duration. The authors use DSMs as a basis for the construction of System Dynamics models. An exemplary case study is presented which assesses three different process sequences for their shortest duration under fixed boundary conditions. Therefore the transformation from DSM into a qualitative System Dynamics model is shown and composite concepts for the transformation are suggested. The model is then quantified and enables the simulation of the different process sequences of the example which are assessed based on the simulation results. Consequently the drawbacks of the presented example are discussed and an expansion of the transformation towards the use of System Dynamics rework cycles is suggested.