Axiomatic Design Meets Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)

The be able to design sustainable systems relies on the ability to associate and communicate design information to meet customer needs. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) provides a means to integrate the classes of information that Axiomatic Design (AD) uses to establish a hybrid (best-of both) design approach. The strength of AD is that it offers axioms to make effective design decisions. MBSE can associate all sources of information for the Systems Engineering (SE) lifecycle. AD offers design veracity. MBSE manages information such as the logic and thought process required in design decision making, how design decisions influence risk, and the results of test plans to verify and validate a design. To advance AD and MBSE, an information metamodel is required to integrate information classes used by AD and MBSE. The benefit of integrating AD with MBSE is first that an overall design decision pattern may be used to kick-start any new product or system design. The Functional Requirements (FRs) of a design may then be associated with the decision pattern. Second, MBSE characterizes use cases very well. Customer Needs (CNs) and FRs may then be tied to the description of how a product or service is used. The information metamodel also ties risk to a chosen solution during FMEA. To address procedural errors described by Thompson, MBSE manages the identified need to distinguish between architectural FR – PS coupling, and performance FRm – DP coupling. When combined, AD-MBSE enables lifecycle design information integration, the ability to express new design viewpoints, and a single source of truth for a System of Interest. The information metamodel has been tested on the classical water faucet design illustration and the skin graft work by Gabela and Suh.