Evaluating a Functional Basis: Design Theory and Methodology

Saeema Ahmed-Kristensen; Ken M. Wallace

Evaluating a Functional Basis: Design Theory and Methodology

Saeema Ahmed-Kristensen, Ken M. Wallace

University of Cambridge

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

Abstract

One of the motivations to develop a standard language to describe the functions of a product or artifact is to facilitate the indexing, search and retrieval of design knowledge. Taxonomies describing a standard language of functions have been developed by a number of researchers. This paper describes an empirical study carried out to evaluate two such taxonomies for their suitability to indexing design knowledge. The results of eighteen interviews conducted into two separate aerospace companies in the UK are presented. Engineering designers were asked to describe the function of assemblies or components that they were familiar with. In total, 207 descriptions of functions were collected. These descriptions have been analysed and compared to the two taxonomies evaluated. This paper describes the findings from these studies and draws conclusions on the suitability of these taxonomies for indexing design knowledge.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of ASME 2003 Design Engineering Technical Conferences and
Publisher	American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Publication date	2003
Publication status	Published - 2003
Externally published	Yes
Event	International Design Engineering Technical Confrerences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference : ASME - Chicago, Illinois, USA Duration: 1 Jan 2003 → …

Conference

Conference	International Design Engineering Technical Confrerences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference : ASME
City	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Period	01/01/2003 → …

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title = "Evaluating a Functional Basis: Design Theory and Methodology",

abstract = "One of the motivations to develop a standard language to describe the functions of a product or artifact is to facilitate the indexing, search and retrieval of design knowledge. Taxonomies describing a standard language of functions have been developed by a number of researchers. This paper describes an empirical study carried out to evaluate two such taxonomies for their suitability to indexing design knowledge. The results of eighteen interviews conducted into two separate aerospace companies in the UK are presented. Engineering designers were asked to describe the function of assemblies or components that they were familiar with. In total, 207 descriptions of functions were collected. These descriptions have been analysed and compared to the two taxonomies evaluated. This paper describes the findings from these studies and draws conclusions on the suitability of these taxonomies for indexing design knowledge.",

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Ahmed-Kristensen, S & Wallace, KM 2003, Evaluating a Functional Basis: Design Theory and Methodology. in Proceedings of ASME 2003 Design Engineering Technical Conferences and. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International Design Engineering Technical Confrerences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference : ASME, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 01/01/2003. <http://www.web.mek.dtu.dk/staff/sah/publications/publications.htm>

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N2 - One of the motivations to develop a standard language to describe the functions of a product or artifact is to facilitate the indexing, search and retrieval of design knowledge. Taxonomies describing a standard language of functions have been developed by a number of researchers. This paper describes an empirical study carried out to evaluate two such taxonomies for their suitability to indexing design knowledge. The results of eighteen interviews conducted into two separate aerospace companies in the UK are presented. Engineering designers were asked to describe the function of assemblies or components that they were familiar with. In total, 207 descriptions of functions were collected. These descriptions have been analysed and compared to the two taxonomies evaluated. This paper describes the findings from these studies and draws conclusions on the suitability of these taxonomies for indexing design knowledge.

AB - One of the motivations to develop a standard language to describe the functions of a product or artifact is to facilitate the indexing, search and retrieval of design knowledge. Taxonomies describing a standard language of functions have been developed by a number of researchers. This paper describes an empirical study carried out to evaluate two such taxonomies for their suitability to indexing design knowledge. The results of eighteen interviews conducted into two separate aerospace companies in the UK are presented. Engineering designers were asked to describe the function of assemblies or components that they were familiar with. In total, 207 descriptions of functions were collected. These descriptions have been analysed and compared to the two taxonomies evaluated. This paper describes the findings from these studies and draws conclusions on the suitability of these taxonomies for indexing design knowledge.

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BT - Proceedings of ASME 2003 Design Engineering Technical Conferences and

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ER -

Evaluating a Functional Basis: Design Theory and Methodology

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