Multiobjective design optimization studies typically derive Pareto sets or use a scalar substitute function to capture design trade-offs, leaving it up to the designer's intuition to use this information for design refinements and decision making. Understanding the causality of trade-offs more deeply, beyond simple post-optimality parametric studies, would be particularly valuable in configuration design problems to guide configuration redesign. This paper presents the method of Multiobjective Monotonicity Analysis to identify root causes for the existence of trade-offs and the particular shape of Pareto sets. This analysis process involves reducing optimization models through constraint activity identification to a point where dependencies specific to the Pareto set and the constraints that cause them are revealed. The insights gained can then be used to target configuration design changes. We demonstrate the proposed approach in the preliminary design of a medical device for oral drug delivery

Robust Design is an approach to reduce the effects of variation. There are numerous tools, methods and models associated with robust design, however, there is both a lack of a process model formalising the steps of a robust design process and a framework tying the models together. In this paper we propose a framework for robust design and variation management by combining central models to Robust Design, namely, the Quality Loss Function, the Transfer Function and the Domains of Axiomatic Design. The Variation Management Framework (VMF) shows how variation can be mapped from production right through to quality loss in the market place and identifies areas where action should be taken against variation. An additional benefit of the framework is that it makes the link between visual/sensory/perceptual robustness, product robustness, and production variation (Six Sigma). Seven levers which can be activated to increase product quality are described and positioned on the VMF. Proposals for combining with complexity analysis and a set of linked quality and robustness metrics are proposed.

The robustness of a design has a major influence on how much the product's performance will vary and is of great concern to design, quality and production engineers. While ', 'robust design', 'robust function' and 'robust product'.

 Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research.  You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain  You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.

No abstract