Title
A process knowledge representation approach for decision support in design of complex engineered systems
Abstract
Process knowledge is of considerable significance to the digitalization and intelligentization of the manufacturing industry. Current research on the process knowledge representation of decision-making in engineering design has predominantly focused on either mathematical models of individual decisions at the micro-level or organizational models of group decision consensus at the macro-level. However, the management of complexity and uncertainty in the model-based realization of engineered systems is critical to achieving rational, comprehensive, and robust decisions, especially in terms of knowledge-intensive design. The efficiency and effectiveness of decisions in system design are intrinsically linked to the process, knowledge, and system concepts involved, necessitating a more flexible and systematic decision process representation scheme that supports both the management of complexity and uncertainty. Hence, in this paper, we propose a decision-centric design process representation scheme named the Phase-Event-Information X (PEI-X) diagram and its corresponding systematic design guidance method for designing decision workflows. Using the proposed method, designers have the ability to (1) model hierarchical decision processes that cover vertical and horizontal interaction patterns, and (2) exploit the synthesis of the “Formulating-Identifying-Reusing-Exploring” iterative process to extend the understanding and prediction of decision process behaviors in design. We achieve the aforesaid abilities through the implementation of a knowledge-based design guidance system for collaborative decision support and we demonstrate the efficacy by adopting a specific multi-stage manufacturing process design problem, hot rod rolling system design, and carry out an integrated design of materials, products, and related manufacturing processes.
Year
DOI
Venue
2021
10.1016/j.aei.2021.101257
Advanced Engineering Informatics
Keywords
DocType
Volume
Process knowledge representation,Decision workflows,Design guidance,Complexity management,Uncertainty management
Journal
48
ISSN
Citations 
PageRank 
1474-0346
0
0.34
References 
Authors
0
6
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Ru Wang100.34
Anand Balu Nellippallil221.73
Guoxin Wang394.27
Yan Yan4145.76
Janet K. Allen522.07
Farrokh Mistree661.92