Coordinated Property Driven Development

Abstract

Design process models are a central point of interest in engineering design research. Under this discussion, Characteristics-Properties Method/Property-Driven Development (CPM/PDD) has been a popular and widely applied theory for supporting the integration of product modelling and design process modelling. The theory has shown to be useful both in product development and production development. Yet, the theory has not been systematically used as part of continuous improvement of a manufacturing system. This study continues the development of the original theory and applies the theory to continuous improvement of product and production development. Information flow modelling method, that applies CPM/PDD elements, is used in four industrial case studies to coordinate development activity in integrated product and production development environment. As a result, the study proposes a conceptual model for coordinating Property-Driven Development. The theory aims to explain one possible and sustained means to coordinate continuous improvement in a manufacturing system.