Conceptual Design Based On Rapid Design Strategy

Rapid response is the focus of competition in mechanical product market with the trend of globalization of economy. Conceptual design is the highest leverage point of quick delivery and product innovation. Automobile industry, one of Chinese economic backbone, is facing great challenges from global competition. In this dissertation, rapid design strategy with its supporting technique in conceptual design phrase is developed in the context of automobile product design and development under Chinese national condition.After analyzing the product development process feature of the domestic automobile enterprise and the problems in conceptual design phrase, a methodology of Platform-Based-Variant-Design, focused on Requirements Analysis, Product Definition, Platform Selection and Technique Transform, is put forward as the rapid design strategy in accord with Chinese national condition, and some critical techniques supporting the rapid design strategy are discussed in the rest of this dissertation. First of all, a Requirements Analysis model is set up with its process and methods expounded. Next, a Market Information System aimed at Chinese automobile market is developed. This dissertation also illuminates the Product Definition process from Engineering design viewpoints and expatiates common-used tools in the process. After that, a Variant-Design-Oriented Quantitive Product Definition Method is brought out with its process and tools discussed in detail. Then, the definition of product platform planning is made clear, the principles and an improved platform-planning model are proposed. Finally, the platform identification theory and future work are discussed. The methodology presented in this dissertation has been applied to product conceptual design at a domestic mini-auto company to verify its feasibility and effectiveness.