Development of a Methodical Approach for Generating Embodiment-Function-Correlations for Engineers Based on the Examination of the Courses of Action during the Design Process

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Sven Matthiesen
• Subject Area: Engineering Design, Machine Elements, Product Development
• Term: from 2015 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 290499159

Engineering designers are significantly involved in the development of new products. Thus, the methods in product development need to base on the human behavior. This research project focuses on the examination of the behavior and the course of action of engineers while analyzing and synthesizing technical products in order to develop a methodical support for the design process. The creation of embodiment-function-correlation is important for the success of the design process. On the one hand, the creation of embodiment-function-correlations enables engineers to transfer an intended function into a new embodiment design and on the other hand, it enables engineers to verify if an existing embodiment design fulfills its function. In order to examine the behavior by analyzing the course of action of engineers during the creation of embodiment-function-correlations, an empirical study with engineers of high and low experience is conducted. To this, established research methods for empirical studies, e.g. the think-aloud method and questionnaires, are combined with the eye-tracking method. Accordingly, eye-tracking records the regarded embodiment design and think-aloud elicits thoughts on functions. By means of these methods, the course of action and the behavior are measurable and evaluable. Based on the results of the empirical study, a methodical approach is developed for supporting engineers with different levels of experience during the generation of embodiment-function-correlations. The influence of the methodical approach on the design process is validated in a further test study. The results of the test study lead to recommendations on further steps for transferring the approach into a generally valid method.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants