LAUSR

ABSTRACTProduct modernisation and upgrade are driven by the demand to maintain technological update and to increase product operational life. To accomplish those tasks a set of potential solutions are proposed involving engineering changes in original product design. This paper presents a method to support the selection of the most suitable design solution based on the quantification of risk profile and cost of each alternative considering the architectural modification relative to a baseline design. Design Structure Matrix is used to analyse the product original design and the changes required to accommodate alternatives proposals and risk is quantified based on Hazard and operability study analysis and characterised as the effects of components of faults and failures on product performance. The proposed method is applied to an armoured personnel carrier major overhaul when the effects of introducing design changes, including powertrain modification, are quantified in terms of risk and costs. The propose...