Function performance evaluation and its application for design modification based on product usage data

Abstract

In this study, we propose a new method to analyse newly gathered data for product design improvement. The proposed method provides the transformation from usage data gathered in the middle-of-life (MOL) phase to information for design improvement in the beginning-of-life (BOL) phase. To this end, we first define function performance, function performance degradation and the behaviour of function performance degradation changed during MOL. The proposed definitions help product design engineers to understand components/parts' working status during the usage period of a product. Based on the evaluation of components/parts' working status, critical components/parts can be discriminated. For the found critical components/parts, their working status are examined and correlated with field data which consist of operational and environmental data. The correlation provides the engineers with critical field data which have main effects on the worse working status of products. To verify our method, we have carried out a locomotive case study. Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.