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Abstract

Products today must satisfy all customer requirements, particularly relating to Quality, performance and cost, if they are to survive in their respective markets. Against such a background of global competitiveness, it is universally accepted that the design process has the greatest influence on overall product success. In this thesis design has been explored from within an industrial environment, developing a methodology simultaneously with that of commercially successful products. Systematic design approaches have been proven to produce superior products, particularly where team working in large organisations is involved. In support of this activity, matrices offer a mechanism by which multi-variant problems can be evaluated. As part of the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) approach, the 'House of Quality' matrix has been established as a viable means of translating customer needs into Quality products.

Built upon the requirement to further develop a process known as self-pierce riveting, elements of performance, energy usage and statistical data have been effectively combined into a single measure of objective function. This has led to the development of a new form of correlation matrix, permitting the selection of factor combinations, through the introduction of Quantitative and Qualitative measures into the matrix 'roof.

Understanding and dealing with cost issues is one of the most demanding challenges facing manufacturing industry today. Established as the activity most influential on final product cost, the design process must be structured to take account of financial considerations. By expanding the scope of matrices, cost data has been integrated in a quantitative manner into the product selection procedure.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Departments:	Doctoral Theses

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