Synonyms
Definition
Generally speaking, synthesis can be defined as the composition or combination of parts – building blocks, elements – to create a new whole product, artifact, technology, machine, or graphic, whose ruling behavior emerges from the interaction of its constituent parts. In the context of design, synthesis follows different definitions (Chakrabarti 2002). The two most relevant to this work are “synthesis as designing” and “synthesis as solution generation.” In the first definition, synthesis is defined as an iterative process of solution generation and solution evaluation. The second definition narrows its scope to that of generation solutions.
Theory and Application
A synthesis process comprehends a complex combination of cognitive and mathematical mechanism (e.g., random generation, backward reasoning, abduction, case-based reasoning, and constraint-solving). Although no unified theory exists for explaining the nature of the...
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Jauregui-Becker, J.M. (2019). Synthesis. In: Chatti, S., Laperrière, L., Reinhart, G., Tolio, T. (eds) CIRP Encyclopedia of Production Engineering. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53120-4_16777
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53120-4_16777
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