A Comprehensive Mathematical Model for Sequencing Interrelated Activities in Complex Product Development Projects

Determining the proper sequence of interrelated activities in the design of a complex product is an irrefutable challenge for project management. The presence of components with different levels of technology in a complex product can disrupt project planning and cause cost overruns or schedule delays. This article presents a multiobjective model for organizing interrelated activities by taking into account the impact of technological capability and financial aspect of the project with a periodic perspective. First, a multidomain matrix is devised based on design structure matrix and technology readiness level to demonstrate the impact of components technology maturity level. Second, a mathematical model is developed according to rework caused by information dependence (minimizing total feedback value), project financial aspect (minimizing the difference between the budget and project costs), and technology maturity level of components (minimizing technology risk). Finally, a possibilistic programming approach is applied to cope with the uncertainty of input data; in addition, to deal with multiple objective functions, an interactive fuzzy solution approach is implemented. To validate the model and solution approach, a numerical experiment and a case study are conducted. Testing results illustrate the importance of technology maturity level in sequencing activities and indicate that the model can be introduced as a management tool for the financial feasibility study of the project due to the balanced use of budget.