An approach to morphological analysis of design/manufacturing problems

Identification and systematic analysis of managerial problems related to both product design and manufacturing are considered. A four-dimensional problem space is constructed in accordance with principles of morphological analysis. The basic parameters are: hierarchy, function, product structure, and criteria. The identification system works by understanding that every problem occupies a four-dimensional subspace and that a solution to the problem can be facilitated by locating a resolution process used to solve a similar problem that might have been reported elsewhere. A six-dimensional decision space, spanning structural, technological, and infrastructural dimensions, is also constructed to illustrate mapping between the morphological problem space and the decision space