Optimizing automotive electrical distribution systems design and development by reducing design iterations
Name
961358795-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
32.95 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
e65329d198c397d7bf1641d19aae51e6
Author(s)
Cuata Cervantes, Jonathan Eduardo
Advisor(s)
James M. Lyneis.
Date Issued
2015
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
The design and development (D&D) of electrical distribution systems (EDS) is a practice that has been performed in the automotive industry for more than 100 years. The amount of technology infusion in vehicles within this history impacts the design and development of electrical distribution systems in an exponential manner. The electrical architecture of a vehicle increases in complexity with every new product launched into the market. The number of interactions and interdependencies between design and development activities, and across functional groups, has been increasing as a consequence of the constant innovation in the vehicle electrical architecture. These interdependencies and interactions with design and development tasks and cross functional groups generate potential design iterations and rework loops that have direct impacts on the cost, scope and schedule of automotive projects. This research has a fundamental purpose, the review of the electrical distribution systems design and development process inside an automotive OEM through the use of (1) traditional and modern project management tools, (2) surveys and interviews inside the OEM EDS organization, and (3) a review of product development literature, in order to identify recommendations to reduce unplanned design iterations and rework generated by the nonlinear nature of automotive product development. While the analyses, summary and recommendations are specific to EDS product development, it is hoped that the use of both traditional and modern project management tools described in this thesis can serve as a model for those in other industries.
Description
Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, System Design and Management Program, Engineering and Management Program, 2015.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 122-123).
Subjects
Engineering and Management Program.
System Design and Management Program.
Engineering Systems Division.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering and Management Program
System Design and Management Program.
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