Development of a framework supporting collaborative global design based on a study into differing professional cultures Steven Gowers Final Year Research Project MEng Innovation and Engineering Design with French University of Bath - INP Grenoble February - May 2003 Host Supervisor - Philippe Marin Bath Supervisor - Steve Culley

1. Project Background & Context Current industrial trends… Globalisation Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW) National Branch Corporate Professional Differing cultures “ Culture is the collective ‘programming’ of the mind that distinguishes one group of people from another ” [Hofstede, 91] [Ulijn & Weggman, 01] Increasing product complexity Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project

Development of CoDISS Collaborative Data and Information Sharing System Global Design Experiment Collaborative design between Elec and Mech engineers Proposed development of CoDISS II and Virtual Project Platform (VP2) Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project 1. Project Background & Context

2. Project Aims Main areas of the project 1. A general ‘ cultural ’ study A study of two differing professional cultures 2. A specific ‘ optimisation ’ study Integrated optimisation-dimensioning of electromagnetic products Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project Study the product design processes and the exchanges of information in the domains of mechanical and electrical engineering. Suggest new approaches to global design and specify and start to develop a support tool for collaboration.

3. A general ‘cultural’ study Electromagnetic product development is a segregated activity, with designers adopting an ‘over the wall’ approach. What are the problems? A general study into Mechanical and Electrical engineering Specialist knowledge Scientific principles, experiences, contacts Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project

What are the problems? A general study into Mechanical and Electrical engineering Specialist knowledge Scientific principles, experiences, contacts Specialised computer environment CDI Optimizer, Flux 2D, MathCAD, Mega Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project Electromagnetic product development is a segregated activity, with designers adopting an ‘over the wall’ approach. 3. A general ‘cultural’ study

Specialist knowledge Scientific principles, experiences, contacts Specific approach Specialized computer environment CDI Optimizer, Flux 2D, MathCAD What are the problems? A general study into Mechanical and Electrical engineering Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project Electromagnetic product development is a segregated activity, with designers adopting an ‘over the wall’ approach. 3. A general ‘cultural’ study

Defining Requirements Conceptual design Embodiment design Detailed design Choice of structure Optimisation, dimensioning and development of structure Simulation and further development Defining Requirements A specific approach… Key observations Little support for upstream stages Very analytical ‘Overall’ approach Lots of emphasis placed on optimisation (Optimisation is a means of dimensioning an initial structure) Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project 3. A general ‘cultural’ study

4. A specific ‘optimisation’ study Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project Global Design experiment last year... A segregated approach Spring selected by mechanical engineers in ‘isolation’ Very iterative Clear deficiencies in the approach A significant example…

4. A specific ‘optimisation’ study A more integrated approach... Development of an analytical model for the spring Create an ‘overall’ analytical model Dimension the spring whilst at the same time optimising the overall structure Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project

CDI Optimizer Mechanical CoDISS II Shared information Update parameters Composed model OPTIMISATION Incorporate specifications Analytical model Fressort Faimant mg F = ma Design activities Analytical model Collaboration Electrical 5. Collaborative Optimisation Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project

Collaborative Optimisation - What advantages can it offer ? Effective and efficient way of carrying out coupled problems, in keeping with the ‘overall’ approach Optimisation engine carries out iterative dimensioning process Additional gains if products become more complex or if companies develop variants Central collaborative platform during embodiment stages Quickly identify if a common solution does not exist Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project 6. Conclusions

Specific study into two differing professional cultures Integrated optimisation approaches Development of a global communication platform supporting optimisation Development of a framework supporting collaborative global design based on a study into differing professional cultures Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project 6. Conclusions

Further research Practical application in the development of a new electromagnetic product Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project Specific study into two differing professional cultures Integrated optimisation approaches Development of a global communication platform supporting optimisation Development of a framework supporting collaborative global design based on a study into differing professional cultures

University of Bath - INP Grenoble February - May 2003 THANK YOU Steven Gowers

Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project Segregated Approach

Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project Segregated Approach

Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project Collaborative Optimisation

‘Update From File’ Implementation Java XML Corba Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project 5. Collaborative Optimisation

Implementation Java XML Corba Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project 5. Collaborative Optimisation ‘Update From File’

A specific ‘optimisation’ study A significant example - the electromagnetic plunger Resultant force due to magnet Current charges bobbin Movement of central core governed mainly by the spring Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project

A significant example… Electromagnetic plunger Resultant force due to magnet Current charges bobbin Movement of central core governed mainly by the spring Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project

A significant example… Electromagnetic plunger Resultant force due to magnet Current charges bobbin Movement of central core governed mainly by the spring Problem : dimension the spring Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project

Presentation Plan Steven Gowers - Final Year Research Project 1. Project background and context 2. Project Aims 3. A general ‘cultural’ study 4. A specific ‘optimisation’ study 5. Collaborative Optimisation 6. Conclusions