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Exploring the effectiveness of parallel systems in distributed design processes subjected to stochastic disruptions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 September 2014

Sourobh Ghosh ,
Erich Devendorf  and
Kemper Lewis
Sourobh Ghosh
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Erich Devendorf
Affiliation:
Information Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, USA
Kemper Lewis*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, New York, USA
*
Reprint requests to: Kemper Lewis, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, 207 Bell Hall, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. E-mail: kelewis@buffalo.edu
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Abstract

During the design of complex systems, a design process may be subjected to stochastic disruptions, interruptions, and changes, which can be described broadly as “design impulses.” These impulses can have a significant impact on the transient response and converged equilibrium for the design system. We distinguish this research by focusing on the interactions between local and architectural impulses in the form of designer mistakes and dissolution, division, and combination impulses, respectively, for a distributed design case study. We provide statistical support for the “parallel character hypothesis,” which asserts that parallel arrangements generally best mitigate dissolution and division impulses. We find that local impulses tend to slow convergence, but systems also subjected to dissolution or division impulses still favor parallel arrangements. We statistically uphold the conclusion that the strategy to mitigate combination impulses is unaffected by the presence of local impulses.

Keywords

Collaborative EngineeringComplex SystemsDesign ArchitectureDistributed DesignImpulsesProcess Modeling
Type
Special Issue Articles
Information
AI EDAM , Volume 28 , Issue 4: Design of Complex Engineered Systems , November 2014 , pp. 399 - 412
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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