Technical problem solution synthesis based on the ideal type method.
Belak, Stipe ; Covo, Petar ; Belak, Ana 等
Abstract: The paper deals with the complex system design as a
result of technical problem solution. The problem solution is defined as
technical complex system synthesis. The solution is considered as a
result of function integration process that starts on the basis of zero
solution that consists of particular functional claims that could be
fulfilled using the single element or sub system of higher grade. The
function integration process aiming to the technical system synthesis is
not executable without the inter-objectives definition. To preserve the
close connection between the problem claims and the
system/subsystems/elements function integration process execution the
scientific Ideal Type Method is used. The Ideal Type Method is modified
for technical design purpose, and some of possible ideal types and their
impacts to the system synthesis are briefly noted. Readers are directed
to suggested references as examples to the method.
Key words: ideal, type, system, synthesis.
1. INTRODUCTION
The first aim of this paper is to introduce the Ideal Type Method
in technical designer's practice. To serve this intention some, the
most frequent performances are defined as ideal types and their expected
impacts to the technical system design or technical problem solution is
indicated. Term technical problem, in this paper, is certain
description, list of claims or both of them to one or more functional or
other performances that should be fulfilled by the problem solution.
Technical problem solution procedure consists of the problem function
claims (expected function of the technical system as a solution to the
problem) analysis part and the system synthesis part. The Ideal Type
Method is meant to be the aid and handy tool in the process of the
technical system synthesis.
The problem analysis is based on the problem defined function
analysis and solution synthesis called Function Optimization Method
presented in the paper (Belak, 1991). Technical problem solution, in
this paper is considered as the complex technical system. The Method
consists of structured analysis procedures of the problem as entity,
aiming to the function required by the problem definition, definition
and functional analysis of sub problems of the first grade, definition
and functional analysis of sub problems of the second grade, sub
problems of the third grade continuing the analysis further to single
function stage. The stage of the single function definition means the
zero solution (initial solution) of the problem enabling the synthesis
of the complex system initial design as the problem solution. The
solution synthesis procedure is, in principle, very simple but in real
design practice, particularly in complex system design, it becomes very
complex even in the first step of function integration.
The Functional Optimization Method is presented in the paper
(Belak, 1991) on the basis of outline theoretical model of technical
problem analysis and technical system solution integration. The
Functional Optimization Method application on the scientific research is
done in the reference (Belak, 1990) and on designer practice is done in
references (Belak et al., 1993; Belak et al., 1994; Belak, 1996).
2. THE METHOD
Ideal Type Method is one of scientific research methods. The
Method, by definition, is use of two opposite extreme models of the
possible solution based on the particular or multiple performance or
qualities. The method is used to identify the span of values that should
be explored. In every day life one usually use the Ideal Type Method
instinctively every time when is trying to define the best and the worst
scenario of future events or results, so designer's logics, in
different ways, contains certain influence of the ideal type method,
that depends on the designer's personality and experience. In
designer practice ideal type does not have the same meaning as in
science. Ideal type that is used in designer practice means the upper
and lower limit of the span containing all values or models that are of
interest for designing process. That encounters existence of the
possible scope of certain quality (performance) that can be considered
as minimal or as maximal value of the quality or performance. In the
scientific research planning and preparation the Ideal Type Method is
mainly used for the research span framing defining the variables value
planned range or defining the variables acceptable value limits.
Particular value of the Ideal Type Method in designer's practice
appears in the system solution synthesis stage (Belak, 1991), when the
system elements (subsystems) function integration takes place. Ideal
Type Method application to technical system design or technical problem
solution, as presented in paper (Belak, 1991) cannot be applied
directly. That is caused by the fact that the subsystem or technical sub
problem extreme value or performance is not explicitly present in the
system or problem solution overall performance.
3. IDEAL TYPES
The technical problem solution starts, (Belak, 1991) on the basis
of the problem zero solution consisting of elements (sub systems or
particular solutions) that completely serve only one function or claim.
In the case that technical problem describes technical system as a
solution to the problem, the solution system is defined mainly through
the system overall working performances whatever they could be and
system service overall life cycle costs. Two, very important system
solution characteristics, though cannot be used in the Ideal Type
Method, and should be analyzed using techniques and methods of
Terotechnology or Life Cycle Cost (Belak, 2004; Belak/Ticin-Sain, 2005).
The system overall working performance is always considered as lower
limit, but it is not necessarily a basis for ideal type definition.
Thus, the overall working performances should be omitted in the ideal
type method use, and can be used in definition of the system
terotechnological efficiency (Belak, 2006). The system life cycle cost
also should not be considered as a basis for ideal type definition
because the opposite ideal type is meaningless (Belak/Cicin-Sain, 2005;
Belak, 2006). However, characteristics of possible system/subsystem,
that represents technical problem solution, are numerous and very
applicable in the system design. The purpose of this paper is, to
briefly discuss those characteristics in the case of application Ideal
Type Method in the technical complex system design. Some of these
characteristics, very frequently occurred in technical designers
practice are, for example, the system production cost, application of
international standards (ISO), and application of particular, local,
branch (internal) standards, degree of effectiveness (availability,
adaptability, reliability), required degree of maintainability,
recyclability, required degree of intermodal and modular use,
possibility of upgrading and working performances increment, functional
safety and quality, environment friendliness and future ecological
claims receptiveness.
The system production cost as a part of the system life cycle cost
is the characteristics that should be applied to the system design.
However, the system production cost should be used as an ideal type in
two forms. The first form is defining the ideal types on the basis of
lower and upper production cost. The second form is defining the ideal
types on the basis of the one product cost as the system synthetic
quality. The ideal types defined on the basis of applied standards
(international or other) express the degree of applied standardization.
The applied standardization degree, for mass produced system, realizes
moderate impact to maintainability (improving the system
maintainability) and very strong impact to the system per unit
production cost (increasing production cost). The system production
amount decrement impacts the possibility of standardization degree
application (the standardization possibility increases).
Without the system elements function integration (one or more
system elements can perform two or more functions what means that the
elements integrate more functions acting in synergistic way),
application of standardized elements, will increase the system
production cost per unit reasonably and even strongly but keeping
convenient maintainability. The system ideal type based on the defined
service availability strongly depends on the system achieved
maintainability and modularity. The system availability degree increment
increases the production cost strongly. The system ideal type based on
the defined service reliability strongly depends on the system topology.
The system reliability degree increment increases the production cost
strongly. The ideal types defined on the basis of modularity degree
indicate the strong impact to the system topology, production cost
(increasing it significantly), very strong impact to the system service
availability (increment), service reliability (moderate decrement),
system survivability (increment) and maintainability (increment). From
the problem solution synthesis point of view, all requirements to the
solution performances i.e. system design, could be divided into
following main groups:
Topological requirements that define the system structure, aiming
to ensure acceptable degree of system reliability, system survivability
(toughness), system modular use and system upgrading possibilities;
Requirements on the system maintainability degree affecting strongly on
the system morphology and depending on the applied standards degree; The
system production requirements that define production technology,
production capacities and availability of technological procedures.
Environment friendly system design affects the system safety performance
degree, recyclability and future ecological claims receptiveness. After
this brief analysis one dilemma appears. Should one define ideal system
types using particular requirements as defined in technical problem
definition or using main groups of requirements to the problem solution
(technical system design)? The first choice, ideal type definition using
particular requirements, in the case of numerous requirements, can
direct the procedure to the Simulation Method especially in case when
requirements describe continuous variables or values. The second choice
is more designer friendly, but more complex in ideal type definition and
presumes more experienced designer and higher designer's level as
well. Thus the particular performance ideal types are convenient and
should be used in the technical system detail design phase while the
synthetic based ideal types are more convenient and should be applied in
the preliminary and outline design phase.
4. CONCLUSION
The Ideal Type Method is briefly introduced into the technical
designer's practice logic as an aid and handy tool in the process
of the technical system synthesis according to the Function Optimization
Method. Some, the most frequent basis to ideal types definition
(production cost, application of international standards, application of
particular, local, branch standards, required degree of effectiveness
consisting of availability, adaptability and reliability, required
degree of maintainability, required degree of recyclability, required
degree of intermodal and modular use, possibility of upgrading and in
service working performances increment, functional safety and quality,
environment friendliness and future ecological claims receptiveness) are
indicated along with their impact to the system synthesis as well. Two
kinds of ideal types, particular and synthetic and their applicability
are noted.
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