Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Design Information Issues In New Product Development

  • Conference paper
The Design Productivity Debate

Abstract

The need for engineering designers to use relevant and up-to-date information is a crucial issue for companies concerned with the design and development of new products and systems. The pressures to innovate and provide new products that are of increased quality, reliability and performance has never been higher.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the key issues in the domain of the provision of information for engineering designers. This will be achieved by analysing the characteristics that are special to information in the engineering domain, including; the importance of obtaining information by informal means; the key role of suppliers; and the extent to which engineering designers rely upon their own personal knowledge.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Benyon D 1990 Information and Data Modelling. Alfred Waller Ltd, Henley-on-Thames, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Boston O P, Culley S J, McMahon C A 1996 Designers and Suppliers — Modelling the Flow of Information. Proceedings of ILCE ′96, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cave P R, Noble C E I 1986 Engineering Design Data Management. In: Leech D J, Middleton J, Pandle GN, (eds.), Proceedings 1st International Conference on Engineering Management: Theory and Applications, Swansea UK, M. Jackson & Son, pp 301–307.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Court A W, Culley S J, McMahon C A 1993 The Information Requirements of Engineering Designers. Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Engineering Design, The Hague, Netherlands, pp 1708–1715.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Putre M 1991 Product Data Management. Mechanical Engineering, October, pp 81–83.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Court A W, Culley S J, McMahon C A 1996 Information Access Diagrams: A Technique for Analysing the Usage of Design Information. Journal of Engineering Design, Vol. 7, No. l, pp 55–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Shannon C E, Weaver W 1949 The Mathematical Theory of Communication. University of Illinois Press, USA.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  8. Pahl G, Beitz W 1984 Engineering Design. Wallace K M (ed), The Design Council, London, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Rouse W B 1986 ön the Value of Information in System Design: A Framework for Understanding and Aiding Designers. Information Processing and Management, Vol.22, pp 217–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Rzevski G 1985 On Criteria for Assessing an Information Theory. Computer Journal, Vol.28, No.3, pp 200–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Bush J B, Frohman A L 1991 Communication in a “Network” Organization. Organizational Dynamics, Vol.20, No.2, pp 23–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Daft R L, Lengel R H 1984 Information Richness: A New Approach to Managerial Behaviour and Organisation Design. Research in Organisational Behaviour, Vol.6, pp 191–233.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Holland W E, Stead B A, Leibrock R C 1976 Information Channel/Source Selection as a Correlate of Technical Uncertainty in a Research and Development Organization. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Vol.23, pp 163–167.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Liker J, Hancock W 1986 Organizational Systems Barriers to Engineering Effectiveness. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Vol.EM-33, pp 82–91.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Rangan R M, Fulton R E 1991 A Data Management Strategy to Control Design and Manufacturing Information. Engineering With Computers, Vol.7, pp 63–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Turner B T 1977 The Best Format for Design Information. Information Systems for Designers, University of Southampton, UK, pp 87–94.

    Google Scholar 

  17. CALS 1989 Application of Concurrent Engineering To Mechanical Systems Design. CALS TR 002, Washington, DC, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  18. STEP 1988 Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data. ISO TC184/SC4/WG1, October, DP 10303.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sanvido V E, Kumara S, Ham I 1989 A Top-Down Approach to Integrating the Building Process. Engineering With Computers, Vol.5, pp 91–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Chadha B, Fulton R E, Calhoun J C 1991 Case Study Approach for Information-Integration of Material Handling. ASME Engineering Databases: An Engineering Resource.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Poon S Y 1991 Information Systems — A Management Question. Professional Engineering, January 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Botterill E 1992 Cutting the Paper Mountain. Professional Engineering, January 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Stauffer L A, Ullman D G 1991 Fundamental Process of Mechanical Designers Based on Empirical Data. Journal of Engineering Design, Vol.2, No.2, pp 113–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Macleod A, McGregor D R, Hutton G H 1994 Accessing of Information for Engineering Design. Design Studies, Vol.15, No.3, July, pp 260–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Safoutin M J, Thurston D L 1993 A Communications-Based Technique for Interdisciplinary Design Team Management. IEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Vol.40, No.4, November, pp 360–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Shuchman H L 1981 Information Transfer in Engineering. Glastonbury, Coun.: The Futures Group, ISBN 0960 519602.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wilkin A 1981 The Information Needs of Practitioners: A Review of the Literature. University of London, British Library R&D Report No 5611, February.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Court A W, Culley S J, McMahon C A 1994 Information Sources and Storage Methods for Engineering Data. Proceedings of the 2nd ASME Biennial European Joint Conference on Engineering Systems Design & Analysis, PD-Vol.64-5, pp 9–16.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Schwarzwalder B 1992 Information Access: More Options for Engineers. Automotive Engineering, February 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Fleischer M, Liker J K 1992 The Hidden Professionals: Product Designers and Their Impact on Quality. IEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Vol.39, No.3, August, pp 254–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Pitts G 1983 Retrieving and Handling Design Information. Efficiency in the Design Office, Mechanical Engineering Publications, UK, pp 49–53.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Raman P G 1974 A Structure for Design-Related Information. Information Systems for Designers, University of Southampton, Ch.4.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Yeaple R N 1992 Why are Small R&D Organizations More Productive. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Vol.39, No.4, November, pp 332–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Fechter W F 1993 Competitive Myth. Quality Progress, No.5, pp 87–89.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Eder W E 1989 Information Systems for Designers. Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design, pp 1307–1319.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Salzberg S, Watkins M 1990 Managing Information for Concurrent Engineering: Challenges and Barriers. Research in Engineering Design, Vol.2, pp 35–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Levy S, Subrahmanian E, Konda S, Coyne R, Westerberg A, Reich Y 1993, An Overview of the n-dim Environment. Engineering Design Research Centre, Report No. EDRC-05-65-93, January.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Culley S J, Webber S 1992 Implementation Requirements for Electronic Standard Component Catalogues. Proceedings of IMechE Journal of Engineering Manufacture, Vol. 296, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Armour J 1993 A New Chapter Opens for Trade Catalogues. Information Technology June 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Will P 1991 Simulation and Modelling in Early Concept Design. International Conference on the Application of Manufacturing Technologies (ICAMT), Alexandria, VA, April 18th.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Schierbeek B B 1989 The Profile of the Engineering Designer in the Nineties. Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design, pp 201–210.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Bradley S R, Agogino A M 1990 Knowledge Capture for Concurrent Design. Proceedings of the Winter Annual Meeting ASME Prod Eng. Div., Vol.47, pp 17–30.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Reynard K W 1991 Extracting Metals Information. Professional Engineering, June 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  44. MacCallum M 1986 Computer Algebra: Tomorrow’s Calculator. New Scientist, No. l531, pp 52–55.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Stauffer L A, Ullman D G, Dietterich T G 1987 Protocol Analysis of Mechanical Engineering Design. Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design, pp 74–85.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Kuffner T A, Ullman D G 1991 The Information Requests of Mechanical Design Engineers. Design Studies, Vol. 12, No. l, January, pp 42–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Almli F 1988 A Study of Information Flow During the Product Development Process. Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design, pp 17–23.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Wong A, Sirram D 1993 SHARED: An Information Model for Co-operative Product Development. Research in Engineering Design, Vol.5, pp 21–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Rasmussen J 1985 Value of Information in Supervisory Control. Proceedings of the Second Symposium on Empirical Foundations of Information and Software Science, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, October.

    Google Scholar 

  50. March J, Trott F 1988 Databases for Engineers. Professional Engineering, Dec 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Nochur K S, Allen T J 1992 Do Nominated Boundary Spanners Become Effective Technology Gatekeepers?. IEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Vol.39, No.3, August, pp 265–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Sheen R 1992 Barriers to Scientific and Technical Knowledge Acquisition in Industrial R&D. R&D Management, Vol.22, No.2, pp 135–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Clark K B 1989 Project Scope and Project Performance: The Effect of Parts Strategy and Supplier Involvement on Product Development. Management Science, Vol. 35, No. l0, pp 1247–1263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Blotwijk M 1993 EDI in the Process Industry. Human Systems Management, Vol.12, pp 49–53.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Ullman D G 1992 The Mechanical Design Process. McGraw-Hill, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Sanford L 1989 Managers Need Total Information. Professional Engineering, October 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Bögler D 1995 Computers on the Blink. The Daily Telegraph, September 18th 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Granstrand O, Bohlin E, Oskarsson C, Sjoberg N 1992 External Technology Acquisition in Large Multi-Technology Corporations. R & D Management, Vol.22, No.2,pp 111–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Allen T J 1969 The Differential Performance of Information Channels in the Transfer of Technology. In: Grubber W H, Marquis D G (eds.), Factors in the Transfer of Technology, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Bond A H, Ricci R J 1992 Co-operation in Aircraft Design. Research in Engineering Design, Vol. 4, pp 115–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Radcliffe D F, Lee T Y 1991 Observing Engineering Designers at Work. International Mechanical Engineering Congress, Sydney, July, pp 4–8.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Bottle R T, O’Connor M R 1979 Information Seeking Patterns for Industrial Designers. Information Systems for Designers, University of Southampton, pp 23–27.

    Google Scholar 

  63. HMSO 1989 Manufacturing Into the Late 1990’s. A Report by PA Consultants for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Her Majesty’s Stationary Office (HMSO), London, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Nevins J L, Whitney D 1989 Concurrent Design of Products and Processes: A Strategy for the Next Generation. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Vonderembse M, White G P 1991 Operations Management: Concepts, Methods and Strategies. West Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Cunningham M T, Homse E 1984 The Roles of Personal Contacts in Supplier-Customer Relationships. UMIST, UK, Occasional paper No 8410.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Martin J M 1989 Making Information Flow Manufacturing Engineering. May, pp 75–78.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Hollins W, Pugh S 1990 Successful Product Design Butterworths, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Allen T J 1977 Managing the Flow of Information. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Smith P G, Reinertsen DG 1991 Developing Products in Half the Time. Van Nostrand Reinhold.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Womack J P, Jones D T, Roos D 1990 The Machine that Changed the World. Rawson Associates, NY, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Hameri A P, Nihtilä J 1995 Distributed New Product Development Based on Electronic Communication ä A Case Study. Journal of Product Innovation Management, Helsinki, March, pp 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Henderson J C 1989 Building and Sustaining Partnerships Between Line and I/S Managers. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Centre for Information Systems Research, Report No. 195, September.

    Google Scholar 

  74. Harrison S R, Minneman S L 1993 Tools, Communication, and the Nature of Design. Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design, pp 351–354.

    Google Scholar 

  75. Galliers R D 1985 An Approach to Information Needs Analysis. Human-Computer Interaction — INTERACT ′84, pp 619–628.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Shaw N K, Bloor S, Pennington A de 1989 Product Data Models. Research in Engineering Design, Vol. 1, pp 43–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  77. Pugh S 1977 The Engineering Designer-His Task and Information Needs. Information Systems for Designers, University of Southampton, UK, pp 63–66.

    Google Scholar 

  78. Stamper R K 1985 Towards a Theory of Information. Computer Journal, Vol.28, No.3, pp 195–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  79. Konsynski B R, Warbelow A 1989 Co-operating to Compete. Harvard University Working Paper No.89-02.

    Google Scholar 

  80. Pracht W E 1986 Gismo; A Visual Problem-Structuring and Organizational Tool. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Vol.SMC-16, No.2, March/April, pp 265–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  81. Rabins M, Ardayfio D, Fenves S, Seireg A, Nadler G, Richardson H, Clark H 1986 Design Theory and Methodology-A New Discipline. ASME Mechanical Engineering, August, pp 23–27.

    Google Scholar 

  82. Christian A D, Seering W P 1995 A Model of Information Exchange in the Design Process. ASME Design Engineering Conferences, Vol.83, No.2, pp 323–328.

    Google Scholar 

  83. Devine D J, Kozlowski S W J 1995 Domain-Specific Knowledge and Task Characteristics in Decision Making. Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, Vol.64, No.3, pp 294–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  84. Harland C M 1995 Networks and Globalisation-A Review of Research. EPSRC Grant No. GRK 53178, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  85. Ferguson E S 1992 Engineering and the Mind’s Eye. MIT Press, Cambridge, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  86. Vincenti W G 1990 What Engineers Know and How They Know It: Analytical Studies From Aeronautical Engineering. Baltimore, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  87. Lera S, Cooper I, Powell J A 1984 Information and Designers. Design Studies, Vol.5, No.2, pp 113–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  88. Theobold G 1992 Modelling the Elements of Engineering Sub-Assemblies Based on Standard Components. Internal Report, University of Bath, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  89. Miller G A 1965 The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information. The Psychological Review, Vol.63, No.2, pp 81–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  90. Newell A, Simon H A 1972 Human Problem Solving. Prentice-Hall, NJ, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  91. Simon H A 1969 The Sciences of the Artificial. MIT Press, Cambridge MA, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  92. Court A W, Culley S J, McMahon C A 1995 Modelling the Information Access Methods of Engineering Designers. ASME Design Engineering Conferences, Vol.83, No.2, pp 547–554.

    Google Scholar 

  93. Lewis W P 1981 The Role of Intelligence in the Design of Mechanical Components. Man-Machine Communication in CAD/CAM, North-Holland Publishing Co, IFIP.

    Google Scholar 

  94. Culley S J, Owen G W, Pugh P 1996 Current Issues in Design — Survey 1995/96. Published by the IMechE, ISBN 1 85790 027 8.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK

    O. P. Boston & S. J. Culley

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Exhibition Road, London, SW8 2BA, UK

    A. W. Court

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol, Queens Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK

    C. A. McMahon

Authors
  1. O. P. Boston
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. W. Court
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. J. Culley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. A. McMahon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management, University of Strathclyde, 75 Montrose Street, Glasgow, Gl 1XJ, UK

    Alex H. B. Duffy BSc, PhD, C.Eng, C.IS.Eng, MBCS, FIED

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1998 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this paper

Cite this paper

Boston, O.P., Court, A.W., Culley, S.J., McMahon, C.A. (1998). Design Information Issues In New Product Development. In: Duffy, A.H.B. (eds) The Design Productivity Debate. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1538-0_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1538-0_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1540-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1538-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation