A COMPLEX SYSTEM ENGINEERING DESIGN MODEL

Abstract

Competitive markets and the advanced needs of modern societies necessitate mastery and successful design of complex products and systems. The design management of complex products is the focus of this article. We pay particular attention to the fact that organizational communication management is central in the development of complex product design. Any template for complex systems design must pay particular attention to the coupling between product, process, and organization structures. This important coupling can be managed through the effective simulation of the product parametric structure. The complex systems design methodology presented is focused on the organizational structure design, such that the complexity and structure of the to-be-designed product determines the essential interactions of the designers.

KEYWORDS:

• complex systems
• complexity
• design management
• design methodology
• product design
• systems engineering

Notes

¹Number of independent cycles is easily calculated by the formula c(G) = m − n + p where m is graph size, n is graph order, and p is the number of independent components determined by multiplicity of zero in the eigenvalue spectrum of a Laplacian matrix.

²Circular causality in essence is a sequence of causes and effects whereby the explanation of a pattern leads back to the first cause and either confirms or changes that first cause (Erdi 2008).