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Information Flow Modeling (IFM)
Managing Engineering Design Knowledge This initiative uses Design Structure Matrix (DSM) and other advanced tools to model and simulate the flows of information throughout an organization. MIT is at the heart of DSM research. We use DSM to capture system-level knowledge, and to accurately represent complex product architectures and large development organizations. Focusing on knowledge exchange in early development phases, we aim to better convert top-level specifications into component specifications, ensuring the harmonious function of components in complex systems. IFM’s visual representations provide integrated maps of all development activities—a gateway to PD process improvement
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Verizon, ITT, Ford, Pratt & Whitney: Defined spiral & stage-gate development processes, and provided important analysis & modeling.
Johnson & Johnson, CVC-Veeco: Advanced understanding of system-level knowledge; mapped information exchange between KBEs using DSM: case study at Johnson and Johnson; provided system-level knowledge documentation for CVC-Veeco restructuring.
Ford Motor Company: Developed training materials for Design For 6 Sigma, Ford’s next-generation design standard.
General Motors: Delivered a 120-task DSM of GM auto development process with simulations.
IBM, Genrad, PGI: Identified the capabilities critical to successful product development.
Recent Efforts
Design Tools for Best Life Cycle Value: Maximizing value in product development through strategic risk management; increasing product performance, decreasing time-to-market, and reducing costs.
Spiral Development Processes: Determining the optimal development process for a given product; extending spiral processes to environments beyond the software industry.
System-Level Knowledge: Understanding and mapping the exchange of strategic information about a product’s design and development.
Improving Organizational Effectiveness: Quantifying an organization’s PD capability; providing metric comparison against past performance and against peers in industry.
Product Development Process Design: Improving companies’ response to technical and market risks through better PD process design.
Research Faculty
Daniel Whitney
Initiative Leader
Senior Research Scientist
Center for Technology, Policy, and Industrial Development
Steven Eppinger
SDM/LFM Co-Director
General Motors LFM Associate Prof. of Management Science and Engineering
Systems
Sloan School of Management
Thomas Roemer
Assistant Professor
Sloan School of Management
Warren Seering
Weber-Shaughness Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
