Toward a customized multicriterion tool for product evaluation in the early design phases: the CMDET methodology

Abstract

Owing to an increase in requirements and a reduction in time to market, evaluation phases have become particularly crucial steps in the design process, specifically during the early design stages. New domains of expertise are constantly being added to design processes, and the performance evaluation tools that are currently available are too heterogeneous to be used together. The differences mainly concern performance domains, which rely on different types of data. It is therefore necessary to create a methodology for merging compatible tools (i.e. usable during the same phase of the design process) and establishing the most appropriate form of evaluation. In this paper, we begin by describing the Creation of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation Tool methodology. This takes place in four stages: the analysis of existing tools, followed by their evaluation, selection and merger. This methodology will help designers create multicriterion evaluation tools that are tailored to their needs. We then report a case study involving the design of a sustainable and innovative product for additive manufacturing, where the characteristics of each domain were taken into account.