A Comparison of Concept Selection in Concept Scoring and Axiomatic Design Methods

The appropriate selection of design concepts has a strong influence on product cost, durability, robustness and functionality. Effective tools to identify good design concepts are critical. Different design methodologies have different objectives to aid in making the right decision. Some design methods are complementary, whereas others may provide contradictory results. In this study, two design methods, concept scoring and axiomatic design, are compared for their ability to obtain good design concepts. Conceptual designs of micro-pumps, which provide pressure gradients to actuate the flow of liquids and gas, are used to evaluate the design methods. Metrics are used to compare these two design methodologies’ abilities to achieve objective evaluations. The concept scoring method is easy to use, especially when comparing different designs. The axiomatic design method provides a structured and mathematical design evaluation; however, achieving good design through the uncoupling or decoupling of matrices is challenging. Further study is required to integrate these two design methods.