Capturing and managing Design Rationale for aero engine component development

Companies today are facing an increasingly competition and with that the companies have to be more innovative and create new ideas and concepts on a tighter time schedule. This situation increases the demands to use and reuse knowledge, not only figures and facts but even the knowledge that comes with experience such as design alternatives and the reasons behind why selecting one alternative over another, also called Design Rationale. The purpose of the thesis was to investigate and understand the organizations needs of Design Rationale and to identify and try out potential approaches to finally recommend a method so that it is possible to capture Design Rationale in an early development phase. In order to find an approach to capture Design Rationale, needs for a possible capturing tool hade to be identified. This was made through personal interviews among the personnel at Volvo Aero, attending meetings in different projects, observations and many discussions both within and without Volvo Aero. Furthermore three computer based systems where chosen for evaluation since computers are used as the natural way of working and writing at Volvo Aero. These systems where then evaluated and weighted against the needs to be able to se if the systems fulfilled the requirements. Two of the systems where also tested. Computer tools can effectively help organize and structure thoughts and decisions. A good overview of the situation is one of the effects from this. When awareness and a basic level of understanding about Design Rationale benefits are received Design Rationale can be captured using the systems suggested. To be able to implement and capture support and methods for Design Rationale, people need to be aware of Design Rationale existence and it is essential that it becomes a part of and implemented in the design culture at the company.Validerat; 20101217 (root