An empirical investigation of engineering design solution exploration using three design elements approache

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of three different approaches to using the elements of functions, objects and properties on the efficiency and effectiveness of engineering design. Common in the literature are (1) the functions, objects and properties approach (or sequence), (2) the functions, properties and objects approach and (3) the objects, functions and properties approach. Functions define the actions a system must perform to achieve its purposes. Objects are the things (such as hardware, knowledge, etc.) which can perform the functions. Properties are those measures and characteristics associated with the objects which determine how well the system can achieve its purposes. In this study, design effectiveness was defined as the ability of design solutions to meet a specified set of measures of effectiveness. Efficiency was defined as the time required to arrive at a solution which scored highest on a composite score of the measures of effectiveness. The study involved extensive literature research and observation of the design environment. Controlled experimentation was defined and executed using practicing engineers in two groups (single designers and three member teams) developing design solutions to two specific engineering design problems. The results were evaluated using statistical analysis techniques. The functions, objects and properties approach was found in general to be the most consistently effective and efficient of the three identified design elements approaches.