An improved powertrain attributes development process with the use of design structure matrix

Automobiles are becoming increasingly complicated and are creating more of a challenge for the engineering teams working on them. This thesis focuses on improving the methods of managing powertrain attributes and the interactions between them. We are concentrating on the particular attributes of Shift Quality, Performance Feel, Driveability, and Trailer Towing. Engineering work to achieve specific attributes is currently handled attribute by attribute and the system is brought together later. This lack of a more holistic view results in a large amount of engineering rework as attributes are balanced. Reducing or eliminating this rework is the goal. A Design Structure Matrix (DSM) was used to document interactions between the powertrain attributes, sub-attributes and design parameters. Research on various reporting formats was done to determine the best method to communicate the interactions. DSM experts were interviewed about the benefits and pitfalls of using a DSM for reference. Several surveys were done to determine engineering's familiarity with various methods of displaying system interactions and their preferences for reporting the interactions. We also compared the interactions to existing CAE capability to determine the current state of attributes management. The DSM showed numerous interactions between powertrain attributes, other vehicle attributes and design parameters. The analysis of existing CAE tools showed a significant percentage of interactions are not currently being modeled. The responses to survey questions on output methods indicated that a DSM, while being an excellent tool for capturing the interactions, might not be the best tool for displaying the interactions to engineers. The surveys revealed that

Department dc:contributor.department

System Design and Management Program.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Authors dc:creator

• Rinkevich, Daniel J. (Daniel Joseph), 1960-
• Samson, Frederick P., 1965-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Daniel Whitney.

• System Design and Management Program.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/34736

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/34736