Application of DSM-based process reengineering in multidisciplinary cooperative design

This paper presents a method of matrix application to the multidisciplinary cooperative design for complex products. Based on classifying the interdependency relationship between different design activities and describing the definition & types of DSM (design structure matrix), the design flow diagram is illustrated by the matrix of DSM. Then a new DSM is gained by analyzing and partitioning the original DSM, at the same time, a new information flow and design flow diagram of reducing the coupled activities is proposed. Finally, the discussions and conclusions for the application of DSM in multidisciplinary cooperative design process are given at the end of this paper.