Massimo Panarotto’s PhD Defense coming up!
- Post by: Christian Johansson
- 26th November 2015
- No Comment
Välkomna till Massimo Panarottos disputation vid Institutionen för maskinteknik, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola
Tid: 18 december, kl. 09:15
Plats: J1650, Campus Gräsvik, Karlskrona
Avhandlingens titel: A model-based methodology for value assessment in conceptual design
Ämne: Maskinteknik
Opponent: Dr. Danielle Soban, Queen’s University Belfast, Irland
Betygsnämnd:
Dr. Mario Storga (docent), University of Zagreb, Kroatien
Prof. Caterina Rizzi, University of Bergamo, Italien
Prof. Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck, Luleå Tekniska Universitet
Suppleant: Prof. Wlodek Kulesza, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola
Ordförande för disputationsakten: Dr. Marco Bertoni, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola
Handledare: Dr. Marco Bertoni, Dr. Christian Johansson, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola
Institutionen för maskinteknik har en mottagning efter disputationen. Vänligen svara på detta mejl senast den 11 december om du tänker delta och notera gärna om du har några matallergier etc.
Vidarebefordra gärna denna information till andra som kan vara intresserade av detta.
Avhandlingen är tillgänglig via: http://bth.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:866719/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Abstract: se nedan
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You are welcome to attend Massimo Panarotto’s public defence of a doctoral thesis at the department of Mechanical Engineering, Blekinge Institute of Technology
Time: December 18, at 09:15
Place: J1650, Campus Gräsvik, Karlskrona
Thesis title: A model-based methodology for value assessment in conceptual design
Research education subject: Mechanical Engineering
External reviewer: Dr. Danielle Soban, Queen´s University Belfast, Ireland
Members of the examining committee:
Dr. Mario Storga (docent), University of Zagreb, Croatia
Prof. Caterina Rizzi, University of Bergamo, Italy
Prof. Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden
Substitute: Prof. Wlodek Kulesza, Blekinge Institute of Technology
Chairperson: Dr. Marco Bertoni, Blekinge Institute of Technology
Supervisors: Dr. Marco Bertoni and Dr. Christian Johansson, Blekinge Institute of Technology
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is hosting a reception after the seminar. Please respond to this email no later than December 11 if you intend to participate after the and kindly note if you have any food allergies etc.
Please forward this information to anyone who might be interested in this matter.
The thesis is available at: http://bth.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:866719/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Abstract:
The increasing globalization of business over the past two decades is driving manufacturing industries to find new competitive edges, such as developing solutions which encompass products, services and systems in order to satisfy more sophisticated demands. Such an integrated development approach requires engineers to adopt a more holistic perspective when making decisions in the early design stages, taking into consideration both tangible and intangible aspects of value.
Design requirements, the main assessment criteria used to evaluate design concepts, are found in this work to give a partial understanding about the stakeholders’ needs and expectations to be met. This limits the capacity to promote a whole lifecycle perspective about value when making decisions, and the ability to trade softer aspects with more factual dimensions, such as technical performances or manufacturing costs.
The notion of ‘value’ is suggested to develop evaluation criteria that clarify the context in which requirements are generated. A preference for a model-based approach for value assessment emerges from the study, since the use of models is well established in the engineers’ current working practice. This thesis benchmarks present value modelling strategies, such as Value Driven Design (VDD). The majority of VDD approaches stress mathematical optimization of financial objective functions, which are found to have little meaning in conceptual design, where data and information are poorly mature. This thesis proposes instead the application of value models to enhance shared awareness among the design team about the context behind the face value of design requirements. Value models are intended to act as boundary objects, facilitating cross-boundary discussion and negotiation.
This thesis proposes a methodology for value assessment, combining approaches developed during the empirical studies with concepts available in literature. The methodology transitions between a qualitative and quantitative assessment loops. The qualitative assessment loop is based on structuring a set of criteria extracted and translated from customers and stakeholders, against which design alternatives are computed using a baseline design as a reference. The quantitative value assessment loop is based on a breakdown of the customer lifecycle activities, and the value of a design alternative is computed using a functional model, in order to obtain a single indicator to assess the monetary benefits of design alternatives.
The prototype of a qualitative value model is investigated through experiments in design sessions, using a combination of protocol analysis and ethnography. The results from the protocol analysis support the hypothesis that the value model enhances the discussion about the design problem. The ethnographic study highlights the role of a value model as a more effective boundary object than traditional representations, such as a requirements checklist. The quantitative value model has been presented to industrial practitioners in a focus group and qualitative feedback has been gathered, highlighting its potential and suggesting future work.