Multi-Attribute Utility Analysis in Set-Based Conceptual Design

Files
MalakAughenbaughParedis-CAD2007-DRAFT.pdf (189.93 KB)
Author(s)
Paredis, Christiaan J. J.
Malak, Richard J., Jr.
Aughenbaugh, Jason Matthew
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Associated Organization(s)
Organizational Unit
Organizational Unit
Series
Collections
Research Publications
Supplementary to:
Permanent Link
http://hdl.handle.net/1853/32884
Abstract
During conceptual design, engineers deal with incomplete product descriptions called design concepts. Engineers must compare these concepts in order to move towards the more desirable designs. However, comparisons are difficult because a single concept associates with numerous possible final design specifications, and any meaningful comparison of concepts must consider this range of possibilities. Consequently, the performance of a concept can only be characterized imprecisely. While standard multi-attribute utility theory is an accepted framework for making preference-based decisions between precisely characterized alternatives, it does not directly accommodate the analysis of imprecisely characterized alternatives. By extending uncertainty representations to model imprecision explicitly, it is possible to apply the principles of utility theory to such problems. However, this can lead to situations of indeterminacy, meaning that the decision maker is unable to identify a single concept as the most preferred. Under a set-based perspective and approach to design, a designer can work towards a single solution systematically despite indecision arising from imprecise characterizations of design concepts. Existing work in set-based design primarily focuses on feasibility conditions and single-attribute objectives, which are insufficient for most design problems. In this article, we combine the framework of multi-attribute utility theory, the perspective of set-based design, and the explicit mathematical representation of imprecision into a single approach to conceptual design. Each of the component theories are discussed, and their combined application developed. The approach is illustrated using the conceptual design of a fixed-ratio power transmission as an example. Additionally, important directions for future research are identified, with a particular focus on the process of modeling abstract design concepts.
Sponsor
Georgia Institute of Technology
National Science Foundation (Grant #CMMI-0522116; #EEC-0540834)
Date
2007
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Paper
Pre-print
Rights Statement
Rights URI