Tracking product specification dependencies in collaborative design for conflict management

The main difficulty associated with a collaborative design process is understanding the product data exchanged during design. Efficient and effective coordination of design activities relies on a thorough understanding of dependencies between shared product specifications throughout the entire development cycle. This paper explores the linkages between design process features and product specification dependencies, and suggests ways of identifying and managing specification dependencies to improve collaborative process performance. Using a UML2 specification, we propose a process traceability tool to track the design process in an ongoing manner. Based on the information captured, dependencies between specifications involved in the tracked process are identified and inserted in a dependency network, maintained throughout the design process. A set of mechanisms is then proposed to qualify the identified dependencies. Extracting and qualifying specification dependencies could be useful ...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: CAD
• Authors: Mohamed-Zied Ouertani, Lilia Gzara Yesilbas
• Keywords: CAD 2008, Design Process, Specification, Specification Dependencies, Theoretical Computer Science