Complexity Metrics in Engineering Design Managing the Structure of Design Processes

This book presents the results of several years’ research work on how to characterize complexity in engineering design with a specific regard to dependency modeling. The 52 complexity metrics that are presented show different facets of how complexity takes shape in design processes.  The metrics are supported by a modeling method and a measurement framework to employ the metrics in a goal-oriented manner.  The detailed description of all involved metrics and models makes it possible to apply the analysis approach to common process modeling methodologies.  Three case studies from automotive process management illustrate the application to facilitate the transfer to other cases in an industrial context. The comprehensive appendix supplies additional details and checklists for structural analysis to generate a complete overview of current means of structural analysis.

Introduction: Focus of this research.- The foundations of complexity metrics.- Concept of a structural measurement system for engineering design processes.- Modeling the structure of engineering design processes.- Complexity Metrics for Design Processes.- The S-GQM framework to select metrics.- Industrial application of metrics.- Conclusions and outlook.- References.- Appendix.- Keyword index.

Dr.-Ing. Matthias Kreimeyer is a product architect in commercial vehicle design at MAN Truck & Bus AG, Germany. Having graduated from the Institute of Product Development, his research work has a strong focus in automotive process management as well as  complex structures and dependency models.

 

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Lindemann has been active in in industry for many years before he became the head of the Department of Product Development at Technische Universität München, Germany. His research is focused especially on systems engineering, complexity and cost management.