A concurrent optimization methodology for concurrent engineering

We describe a methodology for making the decisions associated with the concurrent engineering of a product and its downstream field support. We adopt, for the overall metrics for evaluating these decisions, long-run system availability and life-cycle cost. The decisions that constitute the concurrent engineering effort can be categorized into three phases: designing the product; designing the manufacturing and logistics systems; and setting operations-control policies for parts production and field support. As an enhancement to well-established methods of coordinating decision makers in concurrent engineering and sharing data across different phases of design and deployment, we have developed a methodology that simultaneously makes the decisions that constitute these phases. This methodology is based on a dynamic programming model of these decisions which is robust and efficient when compared to manual methods of coordinating the concurrent engineering effort. We recommend its use as a decision support mechanism, not as a substitute for interaction among design-team members.