Causal Chain Change Assessment for Mechatronic Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assessing changes in multi-component products, such as mechatronic systems, often lead to unforeseen reliability issues and quality reductions in non-directly connected components due to inadequate evaluation of cumulative damage effects.
Innovation Solution
A causal chain analysis method is employed, where each component group is assigned types of damage, operating modes, and measurable sizes, allowing for the detection of cumulative damage and indirect effects on other components, enabling a comprehensive assessment of changes through simulation and damage models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If component replacement is performed to achieve cost savings, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but product reliability deteriorates due to unforeseen damage in non-directly connected components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the product into multiple component groups and identifies specific damage types for each group. By dividing the assessment into discrete segments (component groups, damage types, operating modes), the method enables targeted analysis of how changes in one component affect others, allowing cost-saving replacements while monitoring reliability impacts on each segment separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary assessment of change effects before implementing component replacements. By using simulation to evaluate potential damage propagation and reliability impacts in advance, the method allows decision-makers to identify cost-saving opportunities that do not compromise overall product reliability, preventing unforeseen damage before it occurs.
2Reliability
If comprehensive assessment of change effects is performed across all component groups, then product quality is maintained, but assessment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal assessment framework that can be applied to any product with multiple component groups. The method uses standardized damage types, operating modes, and simulation approaches that can evaluate changes across different component groups simultaneously, maintaining comprehensive quality assessment while avoiding the need for separate complex analyses for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent focuses assessment on specific measurable parameters and damage types rather than attempting to evaluate all possible effects. By identifying and monitoring key parameters (damage types, operating modes, measurable quantities) that indicate quality degradation, the method achieves comprehensive quality assessment through targeted parameter monitoring rather than exhaustive analysis of all system aspects.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for assessing the effects of at least one change on a product (P) comprising several, in particular at least three, component groups (K1, K2, K3, Kn), each comprising one or more components, in particular a mechatronic product (P). In order to assess effects with high accuracy and ease, the invention provides for a chain analysis, wherein each component group (K1, K2, K3, Kn) is assigned at least one type of damage (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9, Sm) which type of damage (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9, Sm) can lead to a functional impairment of the component group (K1, K2, K3, Kn), wherein each type of damage (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9, Sm) is assigned at least one operating mode (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, Bi) which leads to the occurrence of the type of damage (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9, Sm). can lead towherein each operating mode (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, Bi) is assigned at least one measurable quantity (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, G8, G9, Gj), it is possible to assess by measuring this quantity whether and, if so, to what intensity the operating mode (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, Bi) is active, so that by measuring the quantity (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, G8, G9, Gj) during operation a cumulative damage to the product (P) can be detected, wherein at least one quantity (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, G8, G9, Gj) is assigned to more than one component group (K1, K2, K3, Kn), whereby, based on the causal chain analysis, an effect of the change on a component group (K1, K2, K3, Kn) is assessed on at least one quantity (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, G8, G9, Gj), in particular by means of a simulation, whereby the effect on the quantity on indirect effects of the change on at least one damage type (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9,Sm) of another component group (K1, K2, K3, Kn) is closed in order to assess the impact of the change on a quality, in particular an expected probability of failure, of the product (P).