This paper presents the results of the DFG-project (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) Q-ELF (“Qualitätsorientierter Methodenworkflow für die Produktneuentwicklung eines Linearantriebs in der Fördertechnik”) carried out in cooperation of the TU Dortmund University (support code KU 1307/12-1) with the BUW Wuppertal (support code WI 1234-11/1). The project continues the former project SFB 696 (Sonderforschungsbereich) regarding the Demand Compliant Design (DeCoDe) and the corresponding system model that strengthens the knowledge management to create high-quality mechatronical systems. In contrast to the SFB, which comprised the reverse engineering of a belt conveyor, Q-ELF applied a workflow of methods for quality oriented development on a new product. The DeCoDe ensures a methodical development that connects different engineering domains. This connection is important because the most problems and malfunctions arise at the interface of different domains due to their different notations for example. This approach also enables a methodical comparison of different competing concepts to pick the best suited one. A genetic algorithm is presented to further decrease the design-space. The project was carried out to develop linear drives for intralogistic systems.

and the Ph.D. degree (magna cum laude) from the University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany, in 2012. She worked on many projects in the areas of customer satisfaction, requirement management and quality engineering. Dr. Schlüter is assistant chief in the Ruhr-Area group of the German Society for Quality (DGQ) since 2012. Petra Winzer obtained her Ph.D. degree from the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany, and her habilitation from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany, in 1996. Until her appointment as Chair for Product Safety and Quality at the University of Wuppertal in 1999, she held various positions at the Brandenburg Technical University in Cottbus. Her current research fields are systems engineering, management systems, quality and sustainable development management. Dr. Winzer has been a member of German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatec) since 2007 and prorector for transfer and internationality at the University of Wuppertal since 2008. Marén Willing studied Safety Engineering and Quality Engineering at the University of Wuppertal where she received her B.Sc. degree in 2011 and M.Sc. degree in 2013. After having worked on different research projects during her studies since 2009, she joined the Research Group "Product Safety and Quality Engineering" as a scientific employee and doctoral student in 2013. She is responsible for system modeling and reliability engineering within the transnational project K-VEC.