The transmission of information between requirements modelling and function modelling in the product development process often appears challenging because of multiple used models and different terminology of specific disciplines. The integrated function modelling (IFM) framework is used for functional analysis of technical moderate complex systems and supports cross-disciplinary modelling and communication in the design team. To improve the applicability of this method and its supporting purpose in the modelling process, the authors combined requirements as an additional entity with the existing entities of this method. Furthermore, the extended framework has been used to visualise the procedure with this approach as an example. The outlook provides the potential for further development of the method.

Spatial ability is one of the critical components of human intelligence. It has been proven that it is particularly crucial for success, especially in engineering, where interpreting views of an object presented by drawings, visualizing parts, or manipulating geometry in CAD are fundamental skills. Research has confirmed that spatial skills can be improved through instruction and teaching, for example, sketching and technical drawing, which are also included in the basic engineering classes. This study tested the hypothesis that the development of spatial skills during the fundamental design engineering class can be positively influenced due to the use of different visualization media for sketching and technical drawing tasks, whereas the used visualization media offer varying possibilities of interaction. Seventy students were pre- and post-tested with the Mental Rotation Test. All participants received the same training during the class but were given individual tasks with varying media. The analysis revealed a significant increase in mental rotation performance for all participants throughout the semester with a big effect size. Moreover, the mean performance improvement differed considerably depending on the visualization media and its offered interaction possibilities.

Additive manufacturing offers several potentials such as the freedom of design, part consolidation, function integration, or time and cost-savings. These potentials make AM interesting for industries such as aerospace, automotive and medical implants, and are also seen as enables for the creation of entirely new business models. Additive manufacturing has the potential to change the current manufacturing landscape substantially and has attracted much attention of industry and academia over the last decades.However, these developments require improvements concerning the technology itself and its successful implementation into the value creation chain. Driven by the promising market opportunities and upcoming technological developments, many research activities started.This paper presents a literature review of publications from the last 20 years. Based on this analysis, the evolution of the AM research landscape is portrayed. The research landscape is organised into four areas: machine and process, material, digital process chain and methodology. The paper summarises developments in each of these areas and concludes by presenting current and discussing future research topics.

In seeking to retrofit decade old production systems, there is often the need to re-analyse many facets of the system as previous assessments and past assumptions must be validated or amended. The following paper presents the system modelling and analysis of an industrial cigarette filter maker. The matrix based Integrated Function Modelling (IFM) Framework was applied to model six design entities to create a comprehensive system understanding. The derived system model was subsequently analysed using the Function Integrity Diagnosis and Documentation (FIDD) method to identify risk to system function. Through the unique use-case discussed in this paper, new insights for improvement of the modelling approach and analysis method are identified. This paper concludes with actionable recommendations for improved application of the IFM Framework and FIDD method.

Novice product designers are often insufficiently trained for sustainability-related challenges in engineering practice as sustainability or eco-design have not yet become standard topics in engineering curricula at German universities. The authors developed a course for engineering students to familiarise them with a sustainable way of thinking and train skills required to develop more sustainable solutions. This paper provides details on the concept's structure, content, and methods. The course is part of the Bachelor's and Master's programmes in Mechanical, Biomedical and Industrial Engineering. In order to understand the importance of the topic, students get an introduction to sustainability in general through diverse methodological approaches. Subsequently, they learn and apply relevant basic methods from the field of product development and material selection. Furthermore, special attention is paid to the synergy between university engineering education, science and industry through excursions and guest lectures. Evaluations assess students' learning outcomes, thus enabling the continuous adjustment of addressed content and applied methods.