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dc.contributor.advisorDeborah Nightingale and Steven D. Eppinger.en_US
dc.contributor.authorRogers, Bradley W. (Bradley Warren)en_US
dc.contributor.otherLeaders for Manufacturing Program.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-11-06T16:34:04Z
dc.date.available2009-11-06T16:34:04Z
dc.date.copyright2009en_US
dc.date.issued2009en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/49780
dc.descriptionThesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2009.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (p. 90).en_US
dc.description.abstractDevelopment of new aerostructure designs frequently occurs through a complex process that is difficult to understand and control. Tight requirements for weight, cost, strength, and aerodynamic behavior create many interdependencies in the product design, which translate through to the design process. An increasing fragmentation of the commercial aerospace industry has also added a dimension of complexity to the process - outsourced component designs are often interdependent with in-house component designs, resulting in frequently changing requirements for supplier components during the design process. This thesis offers an analysis of the product development processes of a first-tier aerostructures supplier, Spirit AeroSystems. Although this host company provides the context for analysis, the method is meant to be generally applicable to the development of any complex product. The Design Structure Matrix (DSM) methodology is used to capture the required interaction between tasks of the development of a propulsion structure for commercial aircraft. The task times, time variations, work loads, interdependencies, likelihoods of rework, and learning curves are then quantified and applied to a discrete-event Monte Carlo simulation model which outputs probabilistic completion time and workload of the project. The model is then used to show how changing the customer requirements at different points in the development cycle affect the cost and schedule of development.en_US
dc.description.abstract(cont.) The failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is applied to quantify risks and ensure proper control of their likelihoods and consequences A holistic industry-level analysis provides insight into the complexities of developing an interdependent product across multiple organizations. Potential recommendations to improve the development process are outlined. Finally, the "Three Lens" methodology is applied to identify implementation obstacles. This paper builds upon product development process simulation theory by introducing process independent externalities into the model to show how changing customer requirements may impact the cost and schedule of development. It also proposes a new framework for optimal staffing based upon the maturity of the customer requirements. Finally this paper shows that a disintegrated, sections-based design process architecture, like that used for the Boeing 787, is sub-optimal for product development, and it proposes a new architecture for developing aircraft.en_US
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityby Bradley W. Rogers.en_US
dc.format.extent90 p.en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherMassachusetts Institute of Technologyen_US
dc.rightsM.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582en_US
dc.subjectSloan School of Management.en_US
dc.subjectEngineering Systems Division.en_US
dc.subjectLeaders for Manufacturing Program.en_US
dc.titleUnderstanding, modeling and improving the development of complex products : method and studyen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.description.degreeS.M.en_US
dc.description.degreeM.B.A.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentLeaders for Manufacturing Program at MITen_US
dc.contributor.departmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division
dc.contributor.departmentSloan School of Management
dc.identifier.oclc457193735en_US


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