Product, process and methodology systematization to handle structural and computational complexity in product realization

This paper establishes a concept for Product, Process, and Methodology (PPM ) systematization to handle both structural complexity (often referred as h ard complexity) and computational complexity (also referred as soft complex ity) in product realization. A systematization methodology is proposed to h andle both these complexities through a four-stage process: Planning, Syste matization, Solution and Unification. Planning is the first stage where sys tem specification is defined. Systematization is a systematic decomposition of the problem into a set of discrete sub-problems. There are three kinds of systematization that can be employed in product realization: Methodology systematization, Product systematization and Process systematization. Duri ng the Solution stage, a number of computational alternatives, solution str ategies or topological options for handling soft complexity are obtained fo r each sub-problem, and the best solution is selected. Unification is an ag gregation or a reconstruction of an overall product solution from various a lternative solutions to the sub-problems. A branching and bounding methodology has been employed here first to branch the complex product and process into 'sub-domains' and 'loops' and later b ound these loops back into sub-domains and then further bound those sub-dom ains back into an integrated product development system. The branching and bounding methodology provides the product development teams the ability to refine successively the 'goodness or fitness' of a baseline product concept as teams proceed from one nested loop to another. PPM systematization is a convenient way of organizing the process necessary for a new product reali zation or for developing future product upgrades. Copyright (C) 2001 John W iley & Sons, Ltd.