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| Corresponding Author: Kahkonen, Kalle |
| Author(s): Kahkonen, K., and Huovila, P. |
| Organisation(s): VTT Building Technology (Finland) |
| Understanding and management of design processes
is of crucial importance in nowadays’ construction and engineering projects
particularly in the terms of concurrent engineering. However, our learning
continuum along research and development efforts focusing on management
of design processes has a relatively short history and a lot of important
challenges exist for researchers to form a basis for improvements in companies’
current practice.
Recent effort by VTT Building Technology has resulted in a practical
computerised tool named DSM System. The starting point of the development
of this system was the Design Structure Matrix technique. The development
in VTT has particularly focused on the interaction principles and means
between the user and computer software. DSM System tool comprises: i) Design
process modelling based of characteristics of design activities and information
flows between them, ii) Combination of the use of design process optimisation
algorithm and computer supported interactive process fine-tuning, and iii)
New means to manage and understand large and complex design process matrices.
The paper will describe present the main results of the this effort, the feedback gained from live construction projects and challenges for future development. |
