Use of Margin to Absorb Variation In Design Specifications: An Analysis Using the Margin Value Method

DS 116: Proceedings of the DESIGN2022 17th International Design Conference

Year: 2022
Editor: Mario Štorga, Stanko Škec, Tomislav Martinec, Dorian Marjanović
Author: Arindam Brahma (1), David C. Wynn (2), Ola Isaksson (1)
Series: DESIGN
Institution: 1: Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; 2: The University of Auckland, New Zealand
Section: Design Support Tools and Methods
Page(s): 323-332
DOI number: https://doi.org/10.1017/pds.2022.34
ISSN: 2732-527X (Online)

Abstract

Predicting the impact of changes in a design can be challenging, especially for complex designs. Margins are often built into the designs which can absorb the knock-on effect of such changes, erroneously allocating which can however, lead to propagation. A method for localising and sizing margins in an incremental design context is the Margin Value Method. This paper adapts MVM in the context of uncertainty in input specifications. It discusses possible ways to allocate them in a design such that undesirable effects of margins are minimised while preventing change propagation.

Keywords: design margin, robust design, engineering change, design optimisation