An integrative engineering design optimization tool for design of toys.

摘要

Successful engineering design depends on the appropriate use of available resources. Product design optimization is generally established by a trial and error technique which is not only cumbersome but expensive as well.; This research attempts to articulate the knowledge elements of quality assurance in the current product design and development process within the toy industry. An effective model is developed for knowledge to be captured, stored, enhanced and distributed for quality assurance in toy design and a shorter development cycle. An intelligent hybrid system is used to develop the software for the intelligent design and analysis of the toy design process. This software envisages the implementation by coalescing Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE), Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Material Science theory, Design theory, Optimal Process Control, and AI techniques to achieve a robust and workable system. An integrative engineering design optimization tool (IEDOT) has been developed in response to demands. The engineering design optimization process consists of three tasks in product design optimization: (1) Heterogeneous Data Repository module (HDRM) for setting up the design attributes of products to review the design data base and creating design alternatives. (2) Hybrid Knowledge Optimization module (HKOM) for the empirical review of design for improvement, and (3) Analytical optimization module (AOM) that uses simulation for evaluating the design alternatives. Sensitivity analysis is part of the module for analyzing the cost Abstract effectiveness of the product.; A prototype IEDOT, created for the preliminary design of toys based on the systematic engineering design approach, is used to demonstrate the implementation of the method. For testing and benchmarking IEDOT, case studies of product design optimization were carried out in Hasbro Far East Ltd. In both cases, the building of a knowledge domain into IEDOT was essential. The IEDOT was linked to relevant files containing CAD, design documentation, parameter information, product safety standard and historical data. The modular IEDOT was designed to be adaptable by engineers so that it could be updated and developed in the next phase.; The first contribution of this research is the development of IEDOT which is the first expert system for the optimization of toy design, and it has assisted designers and engineers in optimizing both the qualitative and quantitative aspect of product design. The product development time and product cost is reduced while the quality of the product is improved through the application of IEDOT. The second contribution is the knowledge capturing and reuse process in IEDOT which has facilitated the efficiency of knowledge retrieval, enabling the user to formulate a systematic way of capturing all the knowledge. The third contribution is that the proposed tool has created an opportunity for designers and engineers to review the product in a more scientific way rather than simply relying on their working experience.