Complexity management in mechatronic product development based on structural criteria

Complexity is a central challenge in the design of modern mechatronic products, therefore its control and management in product development process is of major importance. Different domains and complex interrelationships in the process of product development together with the analysis of the system structural behaviour, until now, have not received adequate attention. In this paper, by classifying elements on the basis of their structural features, new approaches are proposed for improving and facilitating the product design and development process. To analyze and present the system's structural dependencies and interrelationships, matrix-based methods are employed and the interactions between domains are modelled via the relevant Multiple Domain Matrix (MDM). Next the components are classified based on the results of structural analysis. This can be applied to, (1) achievement of complete knowledge of the system, (2) control and management complexity of the system, (3) optimization of the product structure, (4) designing a system with robust structure to resist impact changes, and (5) change management in the product with the least expenditure of time and cost. In this paper, as a practical case, the design of a smart gas meter will be reviewed.