Calculations are the most common operations used in decision-making in most product and process engineering design.

More information ... Simulations ...simulations enable the dynamic review of the sensitivity of outcomes (scenarios) to controlled and uncontrolled determinant values before any decision to commit resources is taken ... Goal seeking & optimization ... many decisions relate to a specific decision objective such as minimizing costs, maximising profits or achieving an optimised solution when there are countervailing constraints on the achievement of an objective ... Deduction ... how we think and deduce can be automated to provide sophisticated diagnostic systems on importance in biomedicine and various forms of investigation ... Enterprise models & strategies ... the common practice of applying decision analysis to isolated parts of enterprise operations will not achieve the best enterprise solutions, enterprise models provide a more comprehensive foundation to strategies ... The learning curve ... with practice people improve performance and use less resources to produce better quality output. This learning curve effects has a wide range of decision analysis applicaitons ... Governance ... when decisions are taken on behalf of large groups or constituencies there is a need for transparent coding of group preferences into decision analysis models ...

Decision analysis systems centred on structured calculations involve the arrangement of a sequence of relevant coded formulae (algorithms) arranged in the order of the sequential logic of necessary design decisions. The formulae are based upon knowledge of known relationships between the key determinants of each stage of a design. For example the required strengths of structural beams in a civil engineering design will change according to the overall configuration of a building, its height, number of floors and known likely loads each type of beam will be required to support. In addition, depending upon the materials used in construction, architects can achieve different desired visual impacts without compromising safety.

In order to achieve an error-free design sequence which takes into account a large number of possible "materials options" the correct formulae need to be applied in order to achieve accurate calculations. Structured calculations are an array of formulae which can be accessed according to the specific aspect of a design being managed and expert systems support including decision trees (see Deduction) help guide the designer through the appropriate "design route". In such design processes the output of one calculation represents the input of the next one. Rather than create a single integrated formula the stepwise approach provided by structured calculations arrays permit intermediate checks to be made on such things as costs, specific component lead times and other issues. In addition structured calculation processes permit an audit trail of design decisions in order to record the design process and to facilitate subsequent trouble-shooting of designs should the need arise or to introduce the redesign of specific product components with the minimum of adjustment.

Sequencing calculations

The sequences and types of algorithms (formulae) to be used are defined by the type of design process, be this a jet engine, an aircraft carrier or building. Each calculation covers a range of possible values whose limits are dependent upon a fund of knowledge concerning the cause and effect relationships within the domain in question. The correct sequence of relevant calculations follows a process of "component specification" and then "component integration" to build up the product design step by step. Such a system can be considered to be a highly sophisticated "professional calculator".

Applications

Most manufacturing and industrial sector design processes can be greatly assisted through dedicated online decision analysis systems so as to enable identified corporate staff have oversight of the critical design elements of relevance to their activities.

Construction design involves a structured sequence of calculations to accommodate several design requirements (decision criteria) to identify optimal combinations of appearance, safety, materials & costs.

This can ensure appropriate collaboration between key design staff providing transparency and a productive exchange on information on technical, economic, financial and legal aspects of designs. Onlien system also permit alternative proposals for design improvements to be simulated (see simulations) and costed without committing any resources.

How we help

We assist customers in the development of appropriate structured calculation packages as a central component for online decision analysis systems. This involves a review of current design practice and identifying those process components which can be transferred to an online operation. Essentially this is an automation of current practice. At a subsequent stage we can assist customers integrate other key decision analysis components which influence overall design outcomes.

By using easy-to-follow visual modelling techniques, cross-disciplinary transparency and understanding is maximised so as to gain acceptance on each decision analysis model construction stage and in accordance with the specific sequence of decision tasks to be automated.

We are accustomed to assessing and encoding all relevant technical, economic, financial, regulatory and legal criteria into operational models.