What Is the Design Structure Matrix?

The design structure matrix is a binary square matrix with n rows and n columns (the elements in the matrix are only spaces or symbols ).

Matrix type

Donald Steward introduced the design structure matrix to analyze the information flow in 1981. It is an n-order square matrix, which is used to display the interaction between the elements in the matrix, which is beneficial to the visual analysis of complex projects.

According to different models and the properties of the problem to be solved, the DSM matrix can be used in the following aspects. The layout of the displayed DSM matrix is as follows: The design structure matrix is a binary matrix with n rows and n columns (in the matrix Elements are only spaces or symbols ). The elements of the system are placed in the leftmost and uppermost sides of the matrix in the same order. If there is a connection between element i and element j, the element ij (i rows and j columns) in the matrix is (or represented by the number 1) ; Otherwise space (or represented by the number 0).

In the binary (0 or 1)

DSM Design Structure Matrix Parameter-based DSM

This model is used to analyze the system structure based on parameter interaction. It is constructed by clearly defining ^[1] system elements and interaction relationships to be decomposed. Based on the classification of the various types of interactions between systems, the interaction relationships are further refined. Appropriate weighting is added to make the established DSM more accurate.

In order to reduce the complexity of the overall system coordination, the elements of the parameter-based DSM matrix must be clustered to make it into several subsystems. Several cluster analysis methods have been used in DSM analysis. The results of cluster analysis can be used for task configuration and organizational analysis of integrated product teams.

DSM Design structure matrix DSM based on team

In the analysis and design of information flow-based organizations, if the object of analysis involves individuals or groups in a project, a team-based DSM is required. This method is used in various organizational entities. The team-based ^[2] DSM constructs the corresponding design team by identifying the required information flow and the direction of the information flow.

In the modeling process, designers must understand the meaning of information flow between teams in order to build the correct model. It exhibits several characteristics of information flow. Similarly, in order to form a highly interactive work team and reduce the scope of the team's internal interaction space, the formed team-based DSM matrix should also be transformed.

DSM Design Structure Matrix Task-based DSM

The DSM matrix contains the tasks that make up the project and the way information is exchanged between them. From this, you can find out what information is required at the beginning of a task and what tasks are provided by the information generated by a task. From a row, you can find all the input information tasks of the row, which are the tasks represented by the corresponding columns; from a certain column, you can see which tasks the output information of the activity is (ie, the activities represented by the corresponding rows) absorb.

Below the diagonal is the feedforward of information, while above the diagonal is the feedback information, that is, the information flows from the task (downstream task) to the task (upstream task) that is carried forward. This means that previous tasks have to be repeated based on new information. The dashed boxes represent two pairs of interactive tasks.

The design structure matrix adopts a bottom-up approach, first collecting the design parameters of existing products and their relationships, and then clustering these design parameters through the transformation of the design structure matrix, which can fully reflect the existing product development process. The actual situation encountered has a strong guiding role in the future product development process. ^[3]