Master Product Model for the Support of Tighter Integration of Spatial and Functional Design.

摘要

In this report, we review current engineering practices and the research literature dealing with the integration of spatial and functional design in the product development process. We then propose a conceptual data architecture that can provide the technical basis for making tighter integration of spatial and functional design, analysis-driven design and, eventually, opportunistic analysis more pervasive. We examine some of the principles that may be used to organize and implement the proposed data architecture without at this time committing to any one of the principles. We examine some of the outstanding research issues that will have to be addressed before implementation could be undertaken. We illustrate some of the data integration issues with a simple example. Finally, we outline some of the steps toward the acceptance and implementation of the proposed data architecture. Organizational and education/training issues that affect the lack of more intimate integration of spatial and functional design are briefly mentioned as part of the cause of the current lack of intimate interaction, but they are not considered further in the report.