3 RAPID AND EFFECTIVE REQUIREMENTS DEFINITION MODELING TOOLS - EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY FOR MANUFACTURING SYSTEM INVESTIGATIONS

Current structured analysis tools are plagued by such problems as long completion times, complex notation, high costs, and voluminous docume ntation. To overcome these difficulties, the authors propose three new tools for effective definition of integrated information systems for manufacturing systems: the triple diagonal, the user-concept diagram, and the concept map. The triple diagonal is used to identify and prior itize major information system modules required of the factory. The us er-concept diagram plays a complementary, expansive role to the triple diagonal as it serves to model the details of the process flow for ma jor information system modules. The concept map is used in parallel wi th both of the above tools to help structure important entity/object c lasses making up the database. The tools were tested through a case st udy involving a startup information system design effort. This effort involved the verification of contractor software support of essential information flows within a large re-manufacturing facility for overhau l of engines and transmissions. Together, the tools aided the startup effort by decreasing the time necessary to acquire manufacturing infor mation system requirements, lowering the costs of such an analysis, an d improving consensus among the various cross-functional teams respons ible for the analysis, design and startup of the facility.