Facilitating Quick Change Introduction in Aerospace Products with DSM-Based Risk Change Analysis and Clustering Technique

Paper in proceeding, 2023

This paper shows how a Design Structure Matrix can support the re-design process of an aircraft cabin interior component - stowage. It presents an approach to identifying challenges of design change introduction in aircraft products and demonstrates how a modular product design can address them. First, the stowage is modeled with a DSM and a risk analysis is performed on the baseline design. Specific stages of the Change Prediction Method (Clarkson et al., 2004) are used to evaluate interfaces between product components in different design domains. Furthermore, DSM serves as an input for clustering operations, which are a foundation for modular stowage design. As a result, a modular product architecture is created including new re-designed interfaces. The results show that the modular design approach can reduce the risk of change while increasing product customization and the number of configuration alternatives.